'^■^iiii-i^  ' 


^a 


THE  SERPENT'S  TOOTH 


I 

THE  SERPENT'S 
TOOTH 


BY 

B.  M.  CROKER 


NEW  YORK 
BRENTANO'S 

1913 


Printed  in  Great  Britain 


^  PR 

THE  SERPENTS  TOOTH 


CHAPTER    I 

COLONEL  FENCHURCH  stood  on  his  own 
hearthstone — that  is  to  say,  the  smoking-room 
rug — with  his  back  to  the  fire,  and  a  cup  of  tea  in  his 
hand.  He  was  a  good-looking  dapper  httle  man,  with 
a  neat  white  moustache,  a  cheery  voice,  and  an  un- 
faihng  flow  of  talk. 

"  I  say,  Doodie,"  turning  to  a  lady  in  a  splashed 
habit,  who  was  meditatively  consuming  buttered 
toast,  "  weren't  the  roads  beastly  ?  Just  look  at  my 
boots  and  leathers  !  " 

Doodie,  his  wife,  nodded,  but  made  no  other 
reply. 

"  A  clinking  run,"  he  continued,  "  and  a  lot  of  those 
thrusters  got  left — you  went  well — eh  ? — that  was  a 
nasty  place  out  of  the  round  plantation  ! — on  the 
whole — a  good  hard  day  !  " 

Once  more  his  better-half  inclined  her  hatted  head  ; 
evidently  her  mind  was  preoccupied.  She  was  staring 
fixedly  at  a  certain  pattern  in  the  carpet,  with  a  remote 
and  far-away  gaze  ;  a  plain  weather-beaten  lady  whose 
age — much  discussed  among  her  acquaintances — was 


S1347S7 


2  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

probably  five-and-forty  ;  her  habit  displayed  a  slight 
square-shouldered  figure  ;  a  pot  hat  pushed  to  the 
back  of  her  head  disclosed  the  inevitable  red  mark, 
a  long  but  aristocratic  nose,  and  a  clever  resolute 
countenance. 

Dorothy  Fenchurch  was  a  notable  example  of  the 
strong-willed  active  woman,  mated  to  a  weak,  easy- 
going, good-tempered  man  :  and  the  match  had  proved 
a  conspicuous  success.  In  the  opinion  of  Tom  Fen- 
church, no  wife  in  the  County  was  fit  to  hold  a  candle 
to  his  wonderful  Dorothy — what  a  housekeeper,  horse- 
woman, companion  ! — and  for  her  part,  his  Dorothy 
was  contented.  Greedy  of  influence,  social  and 
domestic,  she  thoroughly  enjoyed  the  role  of  manager 
and  mentor.  How  much  more  satisfactory  to  rule  in 
a  small  estabhshment,  and  over  a  hmited  circle,  than 
to  languish  at  home,  the  insignificant  member  of  an 
important  house,  who  kept  their  women-folk  inflexibly 
in  the  background  ;  and  so  it  came  to  pass  that  twelve 
years  previously,  the  Honourable  Dorothy  Claremont 
bestowed  her  hand  and  her  fortune  on  agreeable 
Colonel  Fenchurch,  who  had  httle  to  offer  her,  besides 
his  handsome  face,  his  retired  pay,  and  his  heart. 

The  couple  had  settled  down  in  a  ramshackle  old 
house,  in  a  ramshackle  old  village  in  the  Midlands, 
inconveniently  remote  from  the  railway,  but  within 
easy  reach  of  the  principal  Meets  of  a  well-known 
sporting  pack.  The  bride's  relations — who  had  not 
favoured  the  alliance — shrugged  their  shoulders  and 
commiserated  '  poor  Dorothy.'    They  little  knew  that 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  8 

'poor  Dorothy,'  now  thoroughly  free  and  independent, 
was  as  happy  as  the  day  was  long  ! 

Here,  in  the  sleepy  hamlet  of  Thornby,  the  Honble. 
Mrs.  Fenchurch  soon  made  her  presence  felt.  She,  so 
to  speak,  '  took  hold  '  with  both  hands  ;  stirred  up  the 
villagers,  the  parson,  and  the  doctor ;  improved  the  old 
manor  out  of  all  recognition — and  that  at  no  great 
expense. 

This  energetic  lady  had  the  good  fortune  to  discover 
a  priceless  treasure  in  the  village  carpenter,  and  he  and 
a  journeyman  mason,  a  few  odd  men,  with  Mrs.  Fen- 
church as  architect,  threw  out  a  window  here,  shut  up 
a  door  there,  and  boldly  altered  the  principal  staircase. 
By  and  by  when  visitors  arrived  to  call,  and  were 
beholders  of  these  amazing  triumphs,  more  than 
one  exclaimed  : 

"  Why  on  earth  did  we  not  think  of  taking  The  Holt, 
and  doing  it  up  ?  It  is  perfectly  delightful — who 
would  have  guessed  at  its  capabilities  ?  " 

But  these  envious  folk  never  considered  that  its 
present  tenant  was  endowed  with  an  unusual  supply 
of  brains,  enterprise,  and  courage.  She  was  a  born 
decorator,  a  skilled  upholsteress,  and  had  a  positive 
genius  for  gardening.  Before  long,  the  attractions  of 
The  Holt  were  famous  within  a  radius  of  ten  miles — 
Mrs.  Fenchurch  seemed  to  know  exactly  where  to  find 
the  prettiest  chintzes,  the  most  unique  furniture,  the 
newest  roses ;  and  her  cleverness  in  picking  up  prizes  in 
old  curiosity  shops  had  become  a  proverb.  It  was 
said,  that  in  a  back  street  of  the  county  town  she  had 


4  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

actually  bought  a  wonderful  old  Chippendale  sideboard 
for  fifteen  shillings — but  this  would  appear  to  be 
incredible. 

For  twelve  years  The  Holt  was  acknowledged  to  be 
one  of  the  pleasantest  houses  in  the  Count}^  its  in- 
mates the  most  popular,  important,  and  influential 
couple  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  here  Doodie  Fen- 
church  (with  good-natured  Tom  as  her  consort)  reigned 
alone  and  supreme. 

But  now  a  change  was  imminent  ;  a  princess  was 
about  to  enter  into  this  kingdom — yes,  and  to  enter 
within  half  an  hour.  Possibly  this  was  why  its  mis- 
tress seemed  so  unusually  silent  and  distrait. 

The  only  sister  of  Colonel  Fenchurch  had  made  a 
runaway  match  with  a  harum-scarum  Irishman,  who 
was  killed  in  India,  leaving  his  widow  almost  penniless. 
She  died  soon  afterwards,  and  the  unnecessary  infant 
who  ought  to  have  accompanied  her  mother,  survived 
to  be  supported  by  the  Fenchurch  family — themselves 
uncomfortably  impecunious.  Now  this  girl  was  seven- 
teen, and  in  spite  of  Mrs.  Fenchurch's  lamentations, 
protestations,  and  suggestion  that  she  should  remain 
another  year,  Letty  Glyn  had  left  school,  and  was  on 
her  way  to  take  up  her  abode  with  darling  Uncle  Tom, 
and  dearest  Aunt  Dorothy. 

Apparently  dearest  Aunt  Dorothy  was  not  warmly 
enthusiastic  respecting  her  niece  by  marriage  ;  but  she 
was  a  woman  who  sedulously  studied  appearances. 
If  Tom's  niece  were  turned  out  to  earn  her  bread  as 
companion  or  governess,  what  a  talk  there  would  be  ! 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  5 

There  was  positively  no  alternative,  the  girl  must 
make  her  home  at  The  Holt,  in  the  character  of  le 
fdcheux  troisieme. 

As  a  child,  Letty  had  promised  to  be  rather  pretty, 
and  Mrs.  Fenchurch  believed  that  with  her  own  social 
advantages,  she  would  marry  her  off  ere  long  ;  but 
before  arriving  at  this  happy  period,  she  resolved  to 
make  the  poor  relation  useful  in  the  house.  She  should 
dust  china,  arrange  flowers,  pour  out  tea,  help  in  the 
garden,  and  take  over  the  Mothers'  Sewing  Club.  Her 
own  hands  were  more  than  full  both  at  home  and 
abroad  (indeed,  the  influence  of  Mrs.  Fenchurch  now 
radiated  far  and  wide),  she  was  secretary  here,  treas- 
urer and  chairwoman  there,  and  was  often  sorely 
pressed  for  time.  Oh  yes,  Letty  would  have  her  uses  ; 
but  all  the  same  a  girl  in  the  house — a  girl,  who  was 
always  en  evidence,  to  whom  one  must  be  a  sort  of 
model  and  sheep  dog,  would  undoubtedly  be  an 
intolerable  nuisance. 

"  I  say,"  began  her  husband,  breaking  in  upon  her 
reflections.  ^  She  looked  up  at  him  quickly.  "  Isn't 
Letty  due  about  now  ?    Six-thirty  ?  " 

"  Oh  yes,  if  the  train  is  pretty  punctual ;  but  you 
know  what  these  cross  lines  are." 

"  Do  you  think  she  will  be  a  little  hurt  at  no  one 
going  to  meet  her — eh  ?  " 

"  Hurt  !    My  dear  boy,  what  nonsense  !  " 

"  Well,  of  course,  hunting  is  hunting,  and  Garfield 
Cross  is  our  best  meet.  By  the  way,  I  suppose  you  sent 
the  brougham  ?    It's  an  uncommonly  cold,  raw  night." 


6  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

"  The  brougham  ?  Certainly  not  !  I  sent  the 
governess  car — yes,"  in  answer  to  his  exclamation. 
"  You  see,  dear,  Collins  has  had  three  horses  to  do  up 
— you  know  you  had  out  two — you  extravagant  man, 
and  I  really  couldn't  ask  him  to  leave  them  all  to 
James,  so  the  boy  took  the  car  with  the  garden  pony, 
and  her  luggage  will  come  up  to-morrow  by  the 
market-cart." 

"  I  say,  old  girl,"  suddenly  putting  down  his  cup 
and  going  over  to  her,  "  it's  not  a  very  warm  reception, 
eh  ?  The  child  has  not  been  near  us  this  five  years — 
and  it's  a  long  journey  from  Dresden,  eh  ?  "  Then,  in 
another  and  more  caressing  tone,  he  added,  "  You  will 
be  good  to  her,  Doodie  darling,  won't  you  ?  You  can 
make  it  so  awfully  nice,  if  you  like  to,  you  know  !  " 

"  Am  I  not  always  what  you  call  '  good  '  to  my 
guests  ?  "  she  demanded  rather  sharply. 

"  Oh,  hang  it  all,  Doodie,  but  she  won't  be  a  guest  ! 
Letty  is  one  of  us,  eh — isn't  she,  old  woman  ?  Of 
course,  I  know  it's  hard  on  you,  and  she  has  only  her 
little  bit  of  a  pension  ;  but  a  girl  in  the  house  will  be 
cheery,  eh  ?  And  you'll  take  to  her,  I  know,"  and  he 
put  his  arm  round  her  neck,  and  gazed  into  her  shrewd, 
thin  face,  and  repeated,  "  Eh,  darling,  won't  you  ?  " 

Just  at  this  moment  the  door  opened,  and  a  formal 
voice  announced  '  Mrs.  Hesketh.' 

Mrs.  Hesketh,  a  middle-aged  lady  with  a  stately 
carriage  and  the  remains  of  great  beauty,  entered  just 
in  time  to  witness  the  caressing  attitude  of  Colonel 
Fenchurch. 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  t 

"  We  have  had  a  row,  you  see !  "  he  explained  to 
the  visitor  with  the  gaiety  of  a  school-boy  ;  "  the  old 
woman  and  I  have  had  a  shake-up,  and  been  making  it 
up — she  will  pound  me  out  hunting.  I  call  it  deuced 
bad  form,  eh  ?  " 

Mrs.  Hesketh,  a  widowed  cousin  who  lived  in  the 
only  other  '  house  '  in  the  village,  carefully  removed 
her  heavy  sables  before  she  replied. 

"  I  should  think,  Tom,  that  you  are  used  to  that  by 
this  time.    Had  you  a  good  day  ?  " 

"  Ripping  !  " 

"  Many  out  ?  " 

"  Oh,  the  usual  lot,  and  Hugo  Blagdon.  By  Jove  ! 
he  does  have  wonderful  cattle.  I  hear  he  pays  as  much 
as  five  hundred  for  a  hunter.  Yes,  and  he  can  ride 
them  too,"  he  added  with  unusual  generosity. 

"  But  what  brings  him  over  to  this  side  ?  "  enquired 
Mrs.  Hesketh  with  languid  curiosity. 

"  He's  only  staying  at  the  *  Black  Cock  '  at  Ridge- 
fieid  for  a  week  or  so — it's  more  central  than  Sharsley. 
Sharsley  is  a  good  bit  out  of  the  way  for  everything  ; 
seven  miles  from  a  railway  station — monstrous,  isn't 
it  in  these  days  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  we  need  not  boast.  Sharsley  is  a  lovely 
old  place  ;  I  shouldn't  mind  living  there  myself  '  " 

"  No,"  he  answered  with  a  laugh  ;  "  and  a  heap  of 
other  ladies  will  say  ditto  to  Mrs.  Hesketh,  eh,  Doodie?" 
appealing  to  his  wife. 

"  I  can't  think  what's  keeping  her,"  was  the  irrele- 
vant reply. 


8  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

Mrs.  Hesketh  stared  at  her  cousin  with  grave-eyed 
interrogation. 

"  Oh,  I  mean  Letty  Glyn,  Tom's  niece,  you  know, 
Maudie.  Didn't  I  tell  you  that  we  expect  her  this 
evening,  by  the  two  o'clock  from  St.  Pancras  ?  " 

"  So  you  did ;  and  she  is  coming  to  stay  for  some  time  ? ' ' 

"  To  live  with  us  altogether,"  eagerly  amended 
Colonel  Fenchurch.  "  She  is  an  orphan,  the  daughter 
of  my  poor  sister  Kathleen." 

Mrs.  Hesketh  glanced  from  him  to  his  wife,  but  Mrs. 
Fenchurch's  expression  was  blank  and  noncommittal ; 
she  rose,  walked  to  the  fire,  and  brushed  the  crumbs 
from  her  habit  into  the  fender. 

"  We  are  her  only  relations,"  continued  Colonel  Fen- 
church. 

"  Except  her  father's  people,  who  are  paupers," 
corrected  a  thin,  high-pitched  treble  from  the  fire-place. 
"  Irish  paupers — with  nothing  to  live  on  but  family 
pride." 

"  If  she  is  like  my  poor  sister,  she  ought  to  be  a 
beauty,"  urged  her  uncle,  and  his  tone  was  anxious 
and  conciliatory. 

"  She  was  some  way  from  that  when  we  last  saw 
her,"  declared  his  wife,  turning  to  face  them  ;  "a 
long-legged  creature,  with  a  pair  of  sunken  eyes  and 
quantities  of  tousled  hair.  Of  course,  she  may  have 
improved,"  she  added  tolerantly ;  "  and,"  with  a 
glance  at  her  husband's  chiselled  profile,  "  I  hope  she 
will  take  after  the  Fenchurch  family.  A  girl  with  a 
pretty  face  does  get  such  a  splendid  start." 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  9 

"  She  does,"  agreed  Mrs.  Hesketh,  whose  own  beauti- 
ful face  had  been  her  fortune  ;  "  but  if  she  hasn't 
something  to  back  it  up  in  the  way  of  character,  or 
brains,  or  charm, — it's  not  so  much  of  a  start,  after  all." 

"  Hullo — 'Wheels  !  "  announced  Colonel  Fenchurch. 
"  Here  she  is  !  "  and  he  dashed  into  the  hall. 

"  I  think  I  ought  to  go,"  murmured  the  visitor, 
reaching  for  her  boa  ;  **  this  is  a  family  affair,"  she 
added  with  a  smile. 

"And  you  are  one  of  the  family,  Maudie,"  declared 
Mrs.  Fenchurch,  laying  a  strong  detaining  hand  upon 
her  arm  ;  "so  you  must  stay."  Then,  removing  her 
hat,  which  she  tossed  on  the  sofa,  she  was  about  to 
follow  her  husband,  when  the  door  was  thrown  wide, 
and  Colonel  Fenchurch  advanced  into  the  room,  beam- 
ing with  pride,  and  leading  a  tall  girl  in  a  fur-lined 
cloak,  who  looked  both  timid  and  tired. 

"  My  dear  Letty,  how  late  you  are  !  "  exclaimed  her 
aunt,  taking  both  her  hands  in  hers  and  pecking  her 
on  the  cheek  ;   "  and  how  frozen  !  " 

"  There  was  a  slight  accident  which  delayed  us," 
explained  the  girl  nervously. 

"  Now,  then,  give  me  your  cloak,  and  have  some 
tea,  and  tell  us  all  about  it,"  said  her  uncle,  fussing 
round  her. 

"  I  am  afraid  the  tea  is  rather  cold,"  said  Mrs,  Fen- 
church, moving  towards  the  tea  equipage  ;  "  but  we 
will  have  some  more  at  once,"  and  she  rang  the  bell 
violently. 

"  Maudie,  this  is  my  niece  Lettice,"  said  Colonel 


10  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

Fenchurch,  presenting  her  with  ceremony.  "  Letty, 
Mrs.  Hesketh  is  our  nearest  neighbour  and  your 
aunt's  cousin,  and  I  hope  you  may  find  a  corner  in 
her  heart." 

"My  dear,  you  must  be  perished,"  said  the  lady 
kindly.   "  Why,  I  declare  you  are  positively  shivering  !  " 

"  Oh  no,  no,"  she  protested,  whilst  her  uncle  helped 
her  to  remove  her  wrap.  "  This  room  is  delightfully 
warm," 

"  Now,  Letty,  take  off  your  hat,"  he  urged  eagerly. 

"  I  am  afraid  my  hair  is  dreadfully  untidy,"  but  she 
nevertheless  removed  a  fur  cap,  and  bared  a  head  of 
beautiful  light  brown  hair,  which  exhibited  a  natural 
wave. 

'^  So  you  have  had  a  long  journey,"  continued  Mrs. 
Hesketh. 

"  Yes,  nearly  two  days — we  all  travelled  together — I 
mean  the  girls  at  my  school — as  far  as  London." 

"  And  the  crossing  ?  " 

"  Oh,"  with  a  quick,  expressive  gesture,  "  dreadful ! 
I'd  rather  not  think  of  it !  Sometimes  the  boat  stood 
upright !  " 

"Come  tell  us  about  your  railway  accident,"  said 
her  uncle  cheerfully. 

"  It  was  really  nothing,"  she  answered  ;  "  we  ran 
past  another  train  that  had  been  shunted,  and  the  end 
of  it  caught  our  carriage  doors,  or  something — at  any 
rate  we  were  nearly  shaken  off  the  line.  It  gave  us  a 
shock,  for  we  were  travelling  fast,  and  were  dreadfully 
mixed  up  in  our  compartment." 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  11 

"  And  who  were  you  mixed  up  with  ?  "  he  enquired 
jocosely. 

"  The  young  man  in  the  opposite  seat,"  and  she 
coloured  and  laughed.  "  He  wore  an  enormously 
thick  ulster,  and  so  I  wasn't  a  bit  hurt." 

"  And  afterwards  ?  " 

"  We  had  all  to  get  out  and  wait  at  a  tiny  station 
for  more  than  an  hour — such  a  bare  miserable " 

"  Do  you  take  sugar  ?  "  interrupted  Mrs.  Fenchurch. 
with  the  tongs  in  her  hand. 

"  Yes,  if  you  please,  aunt — one  lump." 

"  Then  here  is  your  tea  at  last,  and  some  nice  hot 
toast,"  said  Colonel  Fenchurch,  approaching.  As  he 
sat  down  beside  her  he  said,  "  And  how  did  you  and 
the  young  man  continue  the  acquaintance  so  violently 
begun  ?  " 

"  He  asked  me  if  I  was  hurt — that  was  all." 

"  The  least  he  could  do  !  Why,  bless  my  soul,  he 
might  have  knocked  all  your  front  teeth  down  your 
throat,  or  put  out  one  of  your  eyes — and  then  he  would 
have  had  to  marry  you,  eh  ?  " 

"  I  am  sure  he  wouldn't  have  agreed  to  that,"  she 
answered  gaily. 

"  He  might  go  further,  and  fare  worse,"  rejoined  her 
uncle,  with  a  proud  and  significant  glance  at  his  wife, 
who  had  now  approached  the  sofa. 

"  Of  course,  you  left  your  luggage  at  Tatton,  Letty  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Aunt  Dorothy  ;  I  only  brought  up  my  dress- 
ing-bag.   The  boy  gave  me  your  message." 

"  That  was  right.    And  now,  as  soon  as  you  feel  a 


12  THE  SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

little  rested,  I  will  take  3^ou  upstairs.  Your  quarters 
are  at  the  top  of  the  house,  but  large  and  sunny — with 
a  funny  little  staircase  all  to  yourself !  " 

"  I  am  sure  it  is  charming,  aunt,"  rising  as  she  spoke  ; 
"  it  will  be  delightful  to  have  not  only  a  staircase,  but  a 
whole  room  to  myself,"  and  with  a  pretty  little  foreign 
curtsey  to  Mrs.  Hesketh,  the  girl  collected  her  wraps 
and  followed  Mrs.  Fenchurch  into  the  hall. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  her,  eh  ?  "  enquired 
Colonel  Fenchurch,  retiring  to  the  hearth-rug  as  to  a 
vantage  ground,  and  sticking  his  thumbs  into  the  arm- 
holes  of  his  waistcoat. 

"  She  is  lovely,"  replied  his  companion,  after  a 
moment's  deliberation.  "  When  one  sees  a  girl  so 
fresh,  so  exquisite,  and  so  unconscious,  one  cannot 
help  thinking  of  the  quotation,  '  What  of  the  lovers  in 
the  hidden  years  ?  '  " 

"  Lovers  be  hanged  !  "  he  exclaimed  irritably. 
"  Letty  is  too  young  yet — we  shall  keep  her  with 
us  as  long  as  we  can.  She  seems  as  simple  as  a  child, 
doesn't  she  ? — and  rather  shy  ?  " 

"  I  fancy  she  is  one  of  those  girls  who  develop  slowly. 
Her  age  may  be  seventeen,  but  in  experience  of  life 
probably  she  is  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve." 

"  Lots  of  girls  know  their  way  about  the  world  at 
seventeen,  and  are  one  too  many  for  many  a  man,"  de- 
clared Colonel  Fenchurch  ;  "  but  I  remember  that  my 
sister,  ten  years  my  junior,  was  extraordinarily  young 
in  her  ideas,  easily  influenced,  ready  to  be  ordered 
about,  and  as  obedient  as  if  she  were  a  kid.    She  never 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  13 

knew  her  own  mind — or  had  any  fixed  opinions — 
except  about  Glyn.  He  made  up  her  mind,  and  ordered 
her  to  run  away  with  him,  a  handsome,  reckless,  dare- 
devil. They  went  out  to  India  to  his  regiment,  and  he 
was  killed  within  a  year  up  on  the  frontier,  some  fool- 
hardy exploit,  or  he  would  be  alive  now." 

"  And  take  his  daughter  off  your  hands,"  suggested 
the  lady. 

"  Oh,  well,  I  am  happy  and  proud  to  adopt 
his  daughter — especially  since  I  have  none  of  my 
own." 

He  paused,  and  stared  down  into  the  fire  ;  his  com- 
panion well  knew  that  this  was  the  one  grief  of  his 
married  life.  Tom  loved  children,  and  was  ever  the 
most  popular  and  entertaining  guest  at  their  dances 
and  amusements  ;  he  longed  to  hear  the  patter  of 
quick  little  feet  up  and  down  The  Holt's  uneven 
passages.  Doodie,  his  wife,  had  never  shared  this 
craving — the  whole  County  was,  so  to  speak,  her 
child.  Possibly  she  would  not  have  objected  to  a  fine 
clever  boy,  who  excelled  at  games  and  was  a  brilliant 
success  as  a  prize-winner,  but  a  large  family  of  daugh- 
ters— no,  thank  you  !  Her  husband,  on  the  contrary, 
had  a  particular  partiality  for  girls.  Often,  as  he  smoked 
a  solitary  pipe  in  the  fire-light,  with  half -closed  eyes, 
he  seemed  to  see  a  golden-haired  darling,  the  daughter 
of  his  dreams,  sitting  on  the  hearth-rug,  or  standing  by 
the  window.  And  here  to-day,  had  actually  come  to 
him,  the  realisation  of  his  visions  ! 

"  I  do  hope — I  do  hope "  he  began,  then  hesitated. 


14  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

Mrs.  Hesketh  raised  her  dark  discontented  eyes  to 
his,  and  murmured  an  interrogative  "  Yes  ?  " 

After  a  momentary  struggle  between  inclination 
and  discretion,  he  continued,  "  Between  you  and  me, 
Maudie,"  lowering  his  voice  to  a  whisper,  "  I  hope  to 
goodness  that  Doodie  will  take  to  her  !  " 


CHAPTER    II 

IT  must  be  admitted  that  November  is  not  an  aus- 
picious month  for  a  stranger  to  make  acquaintance 
with  the  EngHsh  country  ;  the  trees  are  bare  and 
leafless,  the  fields  empty  and  uninteresting,  and  what 
can  be  said  for  monotonous,  muddy  roads,  cold  frosty 
mornings,  and  long  dark  nights  ? 

However,  Letty  speedily  settled  into  her  awarded 
niche,  and  endeavoured  to  make  herself  at  home.  She 
soon  became  acquainted  with  the  dogs  and  horses, 
with  her  uncle's  little  fads,  and  her  aunt's  peculiari- 
ties, duly  appeared  at  church,  was  presented  to  the 
parson's  afflicted  wife,  and  made  a  state  call  upon  Mrs. 
Hesketh.  Also,  she  did  her  utmost  to  be  useful ;  but 
her  well-meaning  efforts  were  not  always  successful. 
For  instance,  with  respect  to  arranging  flowers,  the 
school  girl  had  no  experience,  her  vases  looked  ragged, 
or  in  clumps  ;  she  lacked  the  '  airy,  fairy  '  touch  of 
an  expert — but  that,  no  doubt,  would  come.  Then  as 
to  dusting  the  valuable  old  china  ;  here  again  she  was 
something  of  a  failure.  In  handling  a  cherislied  blue 
plate,  it  slipped  through  her  fingers  as  a  thing  alive, 
rolled  defiantly  along  a  stone  passage,  and  subsided  in 
a  dozen  pieces.  Although  Mrs.  Fenchurch  had  picked 
this  up  for  sevenpence  in  a  village  inn,  it  was  a  good 

'5 


16  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

specimen,  and  she  showed  her  displeasure  and  annoy- 
ance plainly— in  fact  so  plainly,  that  Letty  wept  ! 
However,  day  by  day  the  new-comer  improved  ;  she 
helped  her  aunt  to  feed  the  fowls,  and  date  and  pack 
the  eggs  for  sale,  assisted  in  the  greenhouse,  brushed 
and  exercised  the  dogs,  and  took  an  humble  and  sub- 
ordinate part  in  Mrs.  Fenchurch's  numerous  and  ab- 
sorbing occupations. 


The  Holt  was  situated  at  the  extremity  of  a  pictu- 
resque village,  which  consisted  of  a  rambhng  street  of 
red  brick  or  black  and  white  houses  ;   half-way  down 
this,  perched  on  a  high  bank,  was  a  fine  old  church, 
with  its  surrounding  graveyard  ;   and  here  and  there, 
were  httle  shops,  and  quaint  signboards,  and  what  had 
once  been  a  celebrated  posting  inn— now  used  for  the 
storage  of  grain.    At  the  further  end  of  Thornby  was  a 
grim-faced  Georgian  mansion,  standing  back  from  the 
road,  its  lawn  and  approach  well  screened  from  view 
by  thick  laurel  hedges  ;  immediately  behind  the  resi- 
dence, were  large  and  unexpectedly  delightful  grounds. 
Mrs.   Hesketh,   who  had  occupied   Oldcourt   for  ten 
years,  was  a  childless  widow,  with  few  belongings  or 
intimates ;     once   a   notable   leader    in    society,    but 
latterly  indifferent  health,  and  serious  money  losses, 
had  swept  her  out  of  the  social  current,  and  she  had 
come  to  Thornby  to  live  near  her  active  cousin,  Dolly 
Fenchurch,  possibly  in  hopes  of  catching  the  contagion 
of  her  love  for  a  busy  nu^al  life.    An  intellectual  woman, 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  17 

and  an  omniverous  reader,  Maude  Hesketh  dwelt  to  a 
great  extent  within  herself ;  eagerly  watching,  through 
the  columns  of  the  Press,  the  great  world  as  it  went 
rolling  by. 

Once  a  year  she  emerged  from  her  retirement,  and 
went  to  take  the  waters  at  Aix ;  but  the  remainder 
of  the  time  she  occupied  herself  with  her  books, 
her  flowers,  and  her  own  thoughts.  In  spite  of  her 
solitude,  Mrs.  Hesketh  was  beautifully  dressed,  she 
dressed  to  please  and  satisfy  a  dainty,  fastidious  taste. 
Her  house,  too,  was  refined,  and  filled  with  old  French 
furniture,  clever  impressionist  sketches,  bibelots,  and 
exquisitely  bound  books ;  and  although  she  had  lost  a 
considerable  part  of  her  income  in  a  notorious  financial 
failure,  she  was  comfortably  off,  and  kept  a  carriage, 
which  she  rarely  used.  The  lady  had  the  reputation 
of  being  eccentric,  and  something  of  a  mystery ; 
chiefly  because  she  held  herself  studiously  aloof  from 
her  neighbours,  and  was  said  to  give  herself  ridiculous 
airs  !  This  was  a  mistake.  Mrs.  Hesketh  did  not 
cultivate  local  society,  simply  because  it  bored  her. 
She  was  not  interested  in  parish  squabbles,  county 
scandals,  or  domestic  servants ;  but  she  visited  in  the 
village,  where  she  was  much  beloved  by  the  poor. 

To  sum  her  up,  Maude  Hesketh  was  a  clever,  noble- 
hearted,  dissatisfied  woman,  bitterly  disappointed 
to  find  that  with  all  her  gifts  and  opportunities,  she 
had  made  so  little  of  her  life.  And  now,  as  she  would 
say  to  herself,  "  There  is  no  time — it  is  almost  over  I  " 

But  to  return  to  The  Holt  after  this  digression.    The 
c 


18  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

new  inmate  was  beginning  to  make  her  presence  felt 
in  the  household,  she  was  a  ready  learner,  being  both 
keen  and  adaptable  ;  her  aunt's  example  and  capa- 
bilities impressed  her  enormously  ;  every  day,  every 
hour  seemed  to  have  its  own  particular  task.  Mrs. 
Fenchurch  had  a  wonderful  sense  of  organisation  and 
routine,  and  never  one  moment  to  spare.  Her  writing- 
room  was  the  nucleus  of  her  activities  ;  here  on  a 
neat  bureau  were  '  the  books.'  The  house  books,  the 
village  books,  the  visitor's  book,  the  clothing  club 
book,  the  letter  book,  the  garden  book,  and  last  but 
not  least — the  egg  book  !  A  certain  amount  of  this 
order  and  energy  was  imparted  to  her  niece ;  the 
mistress  of  the  house  knew  how  to  make  use  of  capable 
subordinates  —  she  would  have  made  an  efficient, 
though  not  very  popular  or  gracious  abbess — was 
thoroughly  practical,  and  far-reaching — and  particu- 
larly prided  herself  on  her  sense  of  justice  ! 

As  it  happened  to  be  good  hunting  weather,  and  an 
open  winter,  she  left  Letty  at  home  as  often  as  three 
days  a  week,  to  act  as  regent,  answer  messages,  visit 
the  greenhouses,  and  the  poultry  yard,  attend  the 
sewing  club,  and  exercise  the  dogs. 

Colonel  Fenchurch  had  suggested  that  his  niece 
should  learn  to  ride.  He  had  even  put  her  up  on  old 
Playboy,  and  taken  her  round  the  fields  with  a  leading- 
rein,  declaring  that  "  the  girl  really  had  the  riding  flair 
— it  was  her  Irish  blood  no  doubt  ;  she  was  not  a  bit 
afraid,  and  stuck  on  like  a  leech,"  but  his  wife  had 
negatived  the  idea  with  prompt  decision. 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  19 

"  No,  no,"  she  replied  ;  "if  Lett5^  began  to  ride, 
she'd  be  wanting  a  hunter  next,  and  this  winter  has 
been  so  frightfully  expensive,  what  with  the  new  flues 
in  the  greenhouse,  and  the  kitchen  range,  and  then  I 
must  get  her  some  frocks  for  Christmas  and  the  balls. 
She  has  nothing  now,  but  hideous  German  clothes — 
her  school-room  horrors — but  next  year,"  pursing  up 
her  lips,  "  perhaps — we  shall  see  !  " 

And  meanwhile  Colonel  Fenchurch  gave  his  niece  rid- 
ing lessons  on  the  sly;  he  took  her  out  into  the  fields  on 
off  days  when  his  wife  was  buried  in  important  letters, 
and  exercised  the  pony  that  in  summer  drew  the  garden 
mower.  (The  Holt  was  celebrated  for  its  lawns  of 
beautiful  old  turf.)  Letty  found  her  gaunt,  hard- 
featured  aunt  both  cold  and  unresponsive — the  typical 
English  character — but  oh,  so  marvellously  clever  ! 
As  for  her  uncle — who  was  of  her  own  blood — she 
adored  him,  and  manifested  this  affection  in  many 
pretty  ways  ;  brought  him  his  pipe  and  matches, 
folded  up  his  gloves  and  mufflers,  ran  for  his  cap  or 
hunting-crop.  Tom  Fenchurch  liked  it  ;  it  warmed  his 
old  heart  to  see  this  charming  girl  waiting  upon  him  so 
eagerly  ;  but  his  wife  contemplated  such  attentions 
with  a  frosty  eye.  In  her  opinion,  Letty  was  too  im- 
pulsive and  gushing ;  and  she  gave  her  sundry  sharp 
hints  and  raps,  generally  accepted  in  silence  and 
humility — for  all  her  life  long  the  girl  was  accustomed 
to  the  yoke  of  obedience.  Her  mental  attitude  was 
another  affair,  and  though  she  loved  her  uncle,  sad  to 
relate  niece  Letty  was  now  beginning  to  detest  her  aunt. 


20  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

Accepting  Letty  as  a  mere  child,  and  no  more,  Mrs. 
Fenchurch  was  astonished  to  discover  that  she  was 
highly  accomplished  (but  why  not  ?  She  had  been  at 
school  since  she  was  five  years  old) .  She  played  music 
at  sight,  was  an  excellent  German  scholar,  spoke  French 
fluently,  and  executed  most  dehcate  embroideries — but 
was  deplorably  ignorant  as  to  the  cutting  out  and  manu- 
facture of  garments,  that  were  desirable  and  useful  for 
the  clothing  club.  It  was  evident  that  to  her,  life  outside 
school  and  school  routine  was  an  absolutely  unknown 
land.  She  had  never  seen  a  Meet,  never  been  to  a  ball, 
or  taken  part  in  any  social  festivity.  However  all 
that  would  come  in  good  time  ;  meanwhile  the  girl 
was  no  trouble  in  the  house,  and  proved  surprisingly 
docile ;  never  advanced  opinions  of  her  own,  and  did 
precisely  as  she  was  told.  This  aspect  of  her  character 
appealed  to  Mrs.  Fenchurch;  there  was  nothing  she 
enjoyed  so  keenly  as  settling  the  minds,  and  arranging 
the  plans  of  others  ;  and  Letty,  so  to  speak,  left  her 
life,  her  aims,  and  her  future,  entirely  at  her  aunt's  dis- 
posal. Her  will  was  really  too  flexible,  she  had  no  self- 
confidence,  and  in  the  anatomy  of  her  individuality 
there  was  no  such  article  as  the  proverbial  backbone ! 

Mrs.  Hesketh,  who  had  taken  one  of  her  rare  fancies 
to  her  cousin's  niece,  invited  her  frequently  to  tea.  It 
amused  and  interested  her  to  sound  the  depths  of  this 
transparent  young  soul — to  endeavour  to  draw  out 
the  ideas  of  sweet  seventeen. 

"  My  dear  child,  you  are  charming,"  she  declared, 
"  and  you  are  accomplished,  but  you  cannot  possibly  go 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  21 

through  hfe  without  a  mind  and  opinion  of  your  own  ! 
When  I  called  to  take  you  for  a  drive  the  other  day, 
you  could  not  positively  say  yes  or  no — but  shall  I  ? 
And  then  '  Perhaps  I'd  better  not/  and  then  '  I'm  not 
sure  if  aunt  won't  want  me  when  she  comes  in,'  and 
again,  '  I'd  like  to  go  above  all  things,  but  I'm  afraid 
I've  kept  you  so  long  that  I  won't  have  time  to  get 
ready  now.'  And  at  the  end,  just  as  I  was  getting  into 
the  carriage,  '  Oh,  how  I  wish  I  was  going  with  you  ! ' 
Now  if  you  continue  like  this — always  standing  be- 
tween two  forked  roads,  what  will  become  of  you  ? 
At  present  your  aunt  decides,  but  you  cannot  always 
be  a  tender  plant,  clinging  to  a  stout  support,  can  you?  " 

"No,"  Letty  replied  ;  "  I  see  what  you  mean,  and 
I  feel  it  myself ;  but  all  my  days  have  been  ordered 
for  me  ;  my  clothes  have  been  chosen,  my  letters  read, 
my  books  and  companions  have  been  the  choice  of 
others  ;  I  have  always  walked  in  the  path  that  was 
traced  for  me,  and  I  seem  to  expect  a  guiding  hand. 
If  I  ever  had  any  will  of  my  own — I  believe  it  died 
years  ago." 

"  Look  here,  my  good  girl,"  said  Mrs.  Hesketh  im- 
patiently, "  if  you  have  no  will  of  your  own,  you  must 
grow  one  !  Now  I  will  plant  a  little  seed.  You  are 
asked  to  sing  in  the  Parish  Room  on  Saturday  at  the 
Penny  Reading.  I  hear  that  your  answer,  since  the 
matter  has  been  left  to  you,  is  undecided." 

"  Yes." 

"  Tell  me  honestly,  would  you  like  to  sing — or  are 
you  too  nervous  ?  " 


22  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

"  I  am  not  the  least  nervous,  I  have  been  accus- 
tomed to  sing  and  play  at  school  concerts  for  years. 
I  was  quite  a  star  !  "  and  she  laughed  gaily  ;  "  and  I 
really  would  like  to  sing  on  Saturday  if  I  thought  it 
would  give  people  pleasure ;  but  I  have  a  sort 
of  suspicion,  that  Aunt  Dorothy  would  rather  I 
didn't  !  " 

"  That's  imagination,"  protested  Mrs.  Hesketh. 
"  Dorothy  knows  we  are  badly  off  for  performers,  much 
less  stars.  It  isn't  as  if  this  was  to  be  a  big  public 
performance  ;  there  will  only  be  the  village  folk  that 
you  see  every  day,  the  parson,  the  doctor,  and  myself. 
Now,  Letty,  look  me  straight  in  the  face  and  tell  me, 
do  you  wish  to  give  these  poor  people  a  little  pleasure  ? 
Will  you  sing  ?  There  must  be  no  shilly-shallying — 
it's  yes  or  no — now." 

"  Then,"  lifting  her  laughing  eyes,  "  yes." 

"  That's  right.  Just  go  over  to  my  writing-table 
and  write  a  note  to  Mr.  Denton,  and  tell  him  that  you 
will  sing  two  songs  with  pleasure — you  can  drop  it 
at  the  Rectory  as  you  pass  by." 

Letty  rose  and  did  as  she  was  told,  with  her  usual 
docile  obedience,  and  presently  returned  with  a  note 
in  her  hand. 

"  Ah-ha  !  "  said  Mrs.  Hesketh,  giving  her  a  sharp 
look,  "  thus  we  have  planted  the  first  seed !  " 

Saturday  evening  arrived,  the  Parish  Room  was 
packed  to  the  doors  and  window-sills,  and  there  was  a 
good  deal  of  clapping  when  Miss  Glyn,  radiantly  pretty 
in  her  white  school  frock,  was  led  upon  the  platform 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  23 

by  the  Rector,  Her  aunt,  sitting  in  the  front  row, 
looked  distinctly  grim.  Letty's  instinct  was  correct  ; 
it  was  true  that  she  had  been  fiercely  if  secretly  opposed 
to  this  exhibition  !  she  did  not  wish  to  see  the  girl 
brought  forward — at  least  not  yet :  Colonel  Fenchurch, 
on  the  other  hand,  was  the  embodiment  of  triumphant 
expectation,  and  was  prepared  to  lead  the  claque. 

When  the  prelude  on  the  battered  village  piano  had 
ceased,  Miss  Glyn  opened  her  pretty  mouth,  and  began 
to  sing  "  The  Sands  of  Dee." 

Her  voice  was  exquisite ;  honey-sweet,  and  full  of 
restrained  passion.  She  gave  this  most  beautiful 
tragic  song,  with  extraordinary  dramatic  expression, 
and  yet  in  a  simple,  natural  fashion,  from  the  authorita- 

"  Go,  Mary,  call  the  cattle  home," 

till  where  the  last  words  died  away  in  a  tremulous,  lial.- 
stifled  sob. 

When  she  ceased,  there  was  an  awestruck  breathless 
silence  ;  in  fact,  you  might  have  heard  the  fall  of  the 
proverbial  pin. 

What  sort  of  singing  was  this  ?  people  asked  them- 
selves. Something  new  ;  something  that  gripped  j'our 
heart-strings,  something  wonderful  !  Then  came 
thunders  of  applause,  shouts  and  hammerings  and 
stamping  with  sticks  and  feet,  such  as  never  had  been 
heard  within  the  walls  of  the  Parish  School-house, 
yells  of  '  Encore  !  '  to  which  the  singer  smilingly 
acceded  and  gave  them  "  Robin  Adair."  Again  her 
audience  listened  with  rapture. 


24  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

Mrs.  Fenchurch  was  equally  astonished,  and  annoyed, 
by  the  composure  and  aplomb  of  a  girl  who  in  every- 
day life  was  so  timid  and  retiring.  To-night,  she  pre- 
sented the  confidence  and  air  of  a  prima  donna  of 
twenty  years'  experience  ;  but  Letty  was  for  once  upon 
solid  ground  ;  she  knew  her  own  capabilities,  and  the 
radiant  and  acclaimed  Miss  Glyn,  was  a  totally  different 
individual  from  the  timid,  wistful  girl,  who  suffered 
herself  to  be  scolded  and  hustled  about  The  Holt. 

In  short,  that  evening  Miss  Glyn  made  her  name, 
not  only  as  a  marvellous  singer  with  a  voice  which  the 
baker's  wife — who  had  been  to  London — compared 
to  Patti's — but  also  as  a  beauty  I 

Her  fame  now  gradually  oozed  through  the  stolid 
clay  surroundings,  and  reached  villages  and  market 
towns  that  were  afar  off.  These  learnt,  that  the  prettiest 
girl  in  the  whole  country-side  was  a  little  slip  of  seven- 
teen, who  lived  in  Thornby  village. 

It  was  about  this  period  that  Mrs.  Fenchurch  began 
to  feel  seriously  jealous  of  her  bright  and  charming 
inmate  ;  so  popular  with  the  neighbours,  with  the 
household,  and  last,  but  not  least — her  husband. 

She  hated  to  see  her  looking  at  him,  or  speaking  to 
him,  with  eyes  at  once  innocent  and  caressing  ;  and  as 
for  Tom,  he  was  simply  idiotic  about  his  niece  ;  from 
time  to  time,  he  would  come  into  her  bedroom,  dressed, 
or  half-dressed,  as  the  case  might  be,  to  rave  of  Letty's 
perfections  and  beauty ;  to  descant  on  her  sweet 
disposition,  and  to  wind  up  by  declaring,  "  She's  like 
sunshine   in   the   house."     The   poor   man   was   un- 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  25 

doubtedly  bewitched,  and  his  enthusiasm  received 
but  a  tepid  acknowledgment.  (If  you  really  wish  to 
know  a  woman's  bad  points — praise  her  to  another.) 

His  wife  very  solemnly  and  deliberately,  enumerated 
the  girl's  many  failings.  She  was  unpunctual,  she 
was  forgetful,  she  was  untidy — and  she  was  weak.  As 
for  him,  he  was  too  silly  for  anything,  and  was  only 
making  himself  absolutely  ridiculous,  and  the  laughing- 
stock of  the  whole  neighbourhood  ! 

But  as  it  happened  few  of  the  Neighbourhood 
(spelt  with  a  capital  N)  had  beheld  Colonel  Fenchurch's 
young  relative.  County  folk  do  not  visit  in  winter ;  the 
great  summer  gatherings,  at  cricket  matches,  tennis, 
garden  parties,  and  picnics,  were  over :  friends  and 
acquaintances,  for  the  most  part,  met  and  exchanged 
news  and  gossip  in  the  hunting-field,  and  for  this  reason 
the  beautiful  flower  blooming  at  The  Holt,  was  so  far 
blushing  unseen. 

It  was  Letty's  daily  task  to  take  the  dogs  out  for 
exercise  ;  Sam,  the  apoplectic  pug,  Jerry,  the  impetu- 
ous Irish  setter,  and  Locky,  the  aggressive  Aberdeen. 
One  afternoon,  as  she  was  plodding  along  through  a 
muddy  lane  accompanied  by  her  usual  escort,  she 
heard  the  horn  in  the  distance,  and  presently  the 
trotting  of  horses,  who  were  evidently  approaching 
rapidly.  And  yes,  here,  coming  round  a  sharp  bend, 
was  the  whole  red-coated  hunt. 

She  hurried  into  the  field  with  her  precious  charges, 
and  snatching  up  the  snorting  and  bewildered  pug, 
established  herself  behind  the  gate,  from  where  she 


26  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

could  safely  watch  the  cavalcade,  as  it  splashed  and 
pounded  by. 

A  stout,  dark-ej'^ed  man  on  a  magnificent  horse, 
glanced  at  her  casually,  then  stared  hard — iinaUy  he 
looked  back.  This  individual  was  Mr.  Blagdon,  who 
was  enjoying  a  day's  run,  and  rather  middhng  sport 
with  the  Brakesby  pack.  He  was  struck  by  the  figure 
at  the  gate  ;  a  girl  with  a  beautiful  eager  face,  holding 
in  lier  arms  a  struggling  dog ;  but  although  he  made 
prompt  enquiries,  not  one  among  his  many  acquaint- 
ances could  teU  him  the  name  of  the  young  lady  in  the 
blue  cloak,  whom  they  had  passed  in  Rapstone  lane. 


CHAPTER    III 

CHRISTMAS  was  approaching,  and  so  far,  Miss 
Glyn's  acquaintance  was  confined  to  the  village 
of  Thornby.  Now  and  then  her  aunt  and  uncle  went 
from  home  for  a  dine  and  a  shoot,  and  on  these  occa- 
sions, Mrs.  Hesketh  took  charge  of  the  young  lady,  who 
was  dehghted  to  be  her  guest.  At  Oldcourt  the  atmo- 
sphere was  reposeful,  the  surroundings  subdued  and 
luxurious,  and  life  was  leisured.  Here  it  was  seemingly 
'  always  afternoon.'  Letty  was  not  sure  that  she 
would  enjoy  it  as  a  permanence  ;  perhaps  there  was 
too  much  of  the  hot-house  in  the  air,  but  it  was  an 
agreeable  change  from  The  Holt,  where  it  was  figura- 
tively a  perpetual  Monday,  with  a  large  washing  on 
hand  ! 

Cousin  Maudie,  an  accomplished  musician,  en- 
couraged her  guest  to  practise,  played  her  accompani- 
ments, and  delighted  in  her  voice.  Now  Mrs.  Fen- 
church  hated  '  squalling,'  had  no  ear,  and  was  actually 
proud  of  the  fact,  that  she  only  knew  "  God  Save  the 
King  "  by  seeing  people  rise  to  their  feet  !  Mrs.  Hesketh 
also  loved  books,  and  the  tables  at  Oldcourt  were  loaded 
with  the  newest  and  best  pubUcations,  whether  in 
magazine,  pamphlet,  or  book  form.  Letty  laid  greedy 
hands  on  these,  but  her  hostess  prudently  withdrew 

27 


28  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

a  certain  amount — sociological  and  theological  works — 
which  were  not  suitable  reading  for  Sweet  Seventeen. 

Letty  admired — and  loved — ^her  beautiful  (if  rather 
faded)  hostess,  and  the  love  and  admiration  were 
mutual.  The  new-comer  had  also  made  friends  with 
the  Vicar  and  his  wife.  Mr.  Denton,  a  hale,  active  man 
of  fifty,  much  praised  by  his  own  flock,  and  respected 
by  others.  Mrs.  Denton,  though  she  had  lost  the  use 
of  her  limbs  through  sleeping  in  a  damp  bed,  was  her 
husband's  helper  in  the  parish,  and  it  was  surprising 
what  an  amount  of  work,  correspondence,  and  inter- 
views centred  round  her  sofa.  She  was  a  frail,  delicate 
Irishwoman,  with  a  sense  of  humour,  a  cheerful  disposi- 
tion, and  a  warm  heart.  Both  she  and  her  husband  had 
taken  a  fancy  to  the  '  little  girl  at  The  Holt,'  as  they 
called  her.  She  reminded  them  of  their  own  little  girl, 
who  had  married  and  gone  to  India ;  to  see  Letty  flit- 
ting about  the  drawing-room,  or  seated  in  Mabel's  chair, 
was  a  sight  that  gave  them  sincere  pleasure.  And  the 
child  was  so  simple  and  unaffected,  she  looked  into 
one's  face  with  such  sweet  candid  eyes,  and  was  ever 
ready  and  glad  to  carry  a  message,  sing,  play,  or  read, 
to  the  invalid,  keenly  interested  in  little  village  events, 
and  the  weekly  Madras  letter — all  she  asked  for  in 
return,  was  to  be  liked  ! 

In  a  surprisingly  short  time,  this  attractive  stranger 
had  entirely  wound  herself  into  the  affections  of  the 
Dentons  ;  her  visits  were  not  frequent,  but  on  hunting 
days,  after  she  had  exercised  the  dogs,  she  would  turn 
into  the  Rectory  drawing-room,  and  pour  out  tea. 

/ 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  29 

Immediately  before  Christmas,  Mrs.  Fenchurch, 
who  was  absorbed  in  her  correspondence,  sent  Letty 
down  to  the  Rectory  with  a  note.  When  she  arrived 
there  it  was  still  teatime,  and  she  was  surprised  to 
find  that  Mrs.  Denton  had  a  guest,  a  good-looking 
young  man,  who  appeared  to  find  himself  completely 
at  home,  since  he  was  sitting  on  the  end  of  the  sofa, 
nursing  the  Rectory  cat. 

"  Oh,  Letty,  so  there  you  are  I  "  said  Mrs.  Denton. 
"  Let  me  introduce  my  nephew,  Lancelot  Lumley. 
He  has  come  to  spend  Christmas  with  us.  Lancelot, 
this  is  Miss  Glyn — you  have  heard  of  her  ?  " 

"  We  have  met  before,"  he  said  eagerly  ;  "  a  couple 
of  months  ago,  I  think,  in  that  railway  shake-up  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  assented,  for  here  was  the  very  travelling 
companion,  who  had  worn  the  buffer  coat,  "  in  the 
train." 

"  It  might  have  been  a  bad  business,"  he  continued, 
and  described  the  incident  to  his  aunt. 

"  I  suppose  it  happened  when  you  were  on  your 
way  home  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  took  first  leave  this  year,  and  I'm  sorry  to 
say  I  have  nearly  come  to  the  end  of  it." 

"  And  give  us  only  two  days,  Lance — you  ought  to 
be  ashamed  of  yourself !  " 

"  The  fact  is,  Frances  wouldn't  let  me  off,  and 
Colonel  Kingsnorth  lent  me  a  hunter  ;  we  have  had 
some  ripping  good  runs." 

"  Ah  !  "  said  his  aunt,  "  I  think  it  was  the  hunter 
that  wouldn't  let  you  off."     Then,  turning  to  Letty, 


30  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

she  explained,  "  My  brother-in-law,  Lancelot's  father, 
has  a  living  twenty  miles  from  here,  at  a  place  called 
Sharsley  ;  but  he  might  as  well  be  in  London,  for  it's 
so  dreadfully  out  of  the  way.  We  don't  see  one  another 
half  a  dozen  times  in  the  year.  This  note,"  holding  it 
up  to  Letty,  "  is  from  your  aunt  ;  she  says  she  is  so 
desperately  busy,  that  she  can't  help  with  the  church 
decorations.  You  know  she  has  always  undertaken 
the  pulpit,  she  sends  you  as  her  deputy,  and  will 
supply  the  usual  pots  of  palms  and  chrysanthemums. 
Lancelot,"  looking  over  at  her  nephew,  "  I  intend  to 
make  use  of  you — you  and  Miss  Glyn  must  do  the 
pulpit  between  you." 

"  All  right,"  he  answered,  "  I  am  agreeable,  if  Miss 
Glyn  is  ;  but  let  me  warn  you  that  I  have  no  more 
idea  of  decorating  than  I  have  of  making  a  watch." 

"  I  am  afraid  I  am  not  much  good  either,"  supple- 
mented the  girl ;   "  I've  had  no  practice." 

"  Miss  Glyn  left  school  two  months  ago,"  explained 
Mrs.  Denton. 

"  Were  you  sorry  ?  "  enquired  the  young  man,  look- 
ing over  at  her. 

"  Yes,"  then  with  a  burst  of  artless  honesty — "  I 
have  been  to  school  nearly  all  my  life." 

"  She  is  coming  out  at  the  Hunt  Ball  early  in  Janu- 
ary," announced  Mrs.  Denton. 

"  Yes,  and  I  won't  know  a  single  creature  at  it  !  " 

"  Oh,  your  aunt  will  find  you  plenty  of  partners. 
You  could  not  be  in  better  hands.  I  feel  sure  she  will 
make  a  most  capable  chaperon.    It  is  miraculous  how 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  31 

she  manages  to  get  rid  of  the  most  hopeless  articles  at 
bazaars.    No  one  can  resist  her  !  " 

"  And  you  think  she  will  get  7ne  off  !  "  Letty 
laughed,  and  her  laugh  was  joyous. 

"  Not  a  doubt  of  it  !  Sooner  than  see  you  sitting 
out,  she'd  dance  with  you  herself.  And  about  her 
note — so  it  is  all  settled,  Letty.  You  will  be  down 
here  at  eleven  o'clock  to-morrow  ;  bring  a  large  ball 
of  twine,  and  a  pair  of  scissors,  and  Miss  Hoare,  the 
schoolmistress,  will  start  you.  Remember  I  shall 
expect  you  and  Lancelot  to  turn  out  the  most  beautiful 
pulpit  that  has  ever  been  seen  in  Thornby." 

"  I  can  only  say  that  I  will  do  my  best,"  said  Letty, 
rising. 

"  What !  you  are  not  going  yet  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  I  must.  Aunt  Dorothy  has  quantities 
of  things  she  wants  me  to  do  this  evening — there's  the 
ticketing  for  the  Christmas  Tree." 

"  Oh,  poor  child,  I  don't  envy  you,"  said  Mrs. 
Denton  with  upraised  hands.  "  Well,  in  that  case,  I 
won't  detain  you — Lancelot  will  escort  you  home," 
and  subsequently  he  and  the  young  lady  left  the  room 
together ;  she  protesting,  he  assuring  her  that  if  she 
didn't  mind,  he  would  be  glad  to  make  the  stroll  an 
excuse  for  a  pipe.  Strange  to  record,  until  that  evening, 
Letty  had  never  realised  how  short  was  the  distance 
between  the  Rectory  and  The  Holt  !  Here  in  the 
entrance  hall  she  encountered  her  aunt ;  Mrs.  Fen, 
who  was  overwhelmed  with  affairs,  wore  a  frowning 
brow,  and  carried  half  a  dozen  parcels  and  a  Directory. 


32  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

"  Who  was  that  I  heard  speaking  just  now  ?  "  she 
enquired  sharply  ;   "it  sounded  hke  a  man's  voice  ?  " 

"  It  was  only  Mr.  Lumley,  Mrs.  Denton's  nephew  ; 
he  walked  home  with  me." 

"  Oh,  so  he  is  here,  is  he  ?  "  she  remarked  over  her 
shoulder,  as  she  swept  into  the  smoking-room. 

"  Is  that  Lancelot  Lumley  you  are  talking  of  ?  " 
enquired  Colonel  Fenchurch,  who  was  reading.  "  I 
suppose  he  bicycled  over  to  spend  Christmas — they 
find  it  hatefully  dull  without  Mabel.  You'd  better  ask 
him  up  to  lunch,  or  something." 

"  I  think  at  this  time  of  the  year,  when  one  has  so 
much  to  do,"  and  Mrs.  Fenchurch  shot  a  glance  at  her 
husband,  and  then  at  Letty,  "  people  don't  expect  to 
be  entertained." 

"  Of  course  not,"  agreed  the  Colonel ;  "  I  expect 
Lumley  to  entertain  me — you  forget  that  he  is  in  my 
old  regiment.  I  want  to  hear  how  the  old  corps  is 
getting  along  ?  To  think  that  a  boy  who  joined 
a  few  years  before  I  left,  is  commanding  them 
now  !  " 

"  Oh,  very  well,  Tom,  then  do  as  you  like — ask  him 
up  to  lunch  or  dinner." 

"  He  is  an  awfully  good  sort,"  Colonel  Fenchurch 
explained  to  Letty  ;  "  one  of  my  favourites — none  of 
your  *  haw-haw  '  chaps.  His  father  is  a  poor  parson, 
and  this  boy  has  worked  himself  on — getting  scholar- 
ships ;  he  passed  first  out  of  Sandhurst.  I  believe  he 
scarcely  cost  old  Lumley  a  ten-pound  note — he's  the 
hope  of  the  family — such  a  good " 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  33 

"  There — there,  Tom,"  interrupted  his  wife,  "  that's 
quite  enough  about  young  Lumley  I  He  doesn't 
interest  Letty,  or  me.  Now,  Letty,  I  can't  have  you 
standing  idle,  run  away,  take  off  your  things,  and 
go  out  into  the  laundry  and  help  Fletcher  to  ticket 
the  things  for  the  Christmas  Tree." 


It  is  extraordinary  the  amount  of  intimacy  that  can 
result  from  a  mutual  undertaking,  in  which  two  young 
people  are  engaged.  After  Mr.  Lumley  and  Miss  Glyn 
had  finished  the  pulpit — which  to  do  them  justice  was 
a  work  of  great  labour  crowned  with  success — they  felt 
as  if  they  had  been  acquainted,  not  for  hours,  but  for 
weeks.  This  impression,  was  further  strengthened  when 
they  met  at  dinner.  Letty,  wearing  her  plain  white 
school  frock,  the  young  man  looking  handsome  and 
well  groomed  in  the  regulation  swallow  tail.  It  trans- 
pired, that  they  had  been  engaged  in  decorating  the 
church,  and  Mrs.  Fenchurch  and  her  husband  might 
have  been  a  little  surprised  at  finding  they  already 
knew  one  another  so  well,  had  not  the  Colonel  been 
absorbed  in  regimental  stories,  and  Mrs.  Fenchurch 
mentally  composing  an  important  letter,  that  was  to 
go  by  that  night's  post. 

After  dinner,  when  Colonel  Fenchurch  and  his  guest 
had  each  smoked  an  excellent  cigar,  the  former  said  : 

"  Now  you  must  come  into  the  drawing-room  and 
hear  my  niece  sing,"  and  in  spite  of  her  aunt's  pro- 
testations that  Letty  had  too  much  to  do,  and  she 


34  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

could  not  possibly  spare  her,  she  was  led  to  the  piano 
and  enchanted  her  listeners  with  two  or  three  of 
Schumann's  songs,  and  Gounod's  "Ave  Maria,"  and 
the  extraordinary  impression  that  this  beautiful  girl 
had  made  upon  a  susceptible  young  man,  was  now 
complete. 

Lancelot  Lumley  looked  and  listened  in  silence,  and 
surrendered  his  heart  without  a  further  struggle.  Al- 
though he  knew,  that  it  was  absolute  madness  for  him 
to  tliink  of  Miss  Glyn  as  an5rthing  but  a  star  that  dwelt 
apart  !  He  had  his  way  to  make — she  was  penniless — 
her  face,  her  lovely  face,  was  her  fortune. 

On  Christmas  morning  as  he  sat  alone  in  the  Rectory 
pew,  his  e3i'es  often  wandered  across  the  aisle,  in  search 
of  Miss  Glyn.  How  her  sweet  voice  appeared  to  rise 
and  swell  above  all  others  ;  and  to  the  infatuated  lover 
it  seemed,  that  the  beautiful  fair-haired  girl,  with  the 
rapt,  devotional  expression,  was  the  embodiment  of 
a  Herald  angel !  When  the  service  was  over,  Lumley 
met  his  angel  in  the  porch  ;  here  they  exchanged 
seasonable  greetings  and  received  congratulations  on 
their  joint  embellishment  of  the  pulpit.  Then,  very 
late  on  Christmas  night,  Lmnley  ran  up  to  The  Holt  to 
bid  them  all  good-bye.  He  was  hurrying  home  early 
the  next  morning,  as  his  leave  had  nearly  expired  ; 
but  brief  as  this  visit  was,  he  found  an  opportunity 
to  say  to  Letty  : 

"  I  hear  you  are  coming  out  at  the  Hunt  Ball  the 
end  of  January  ?  Perhaps  I  can  get  leave  for  it,  I 
generally  try  to  put  in  an  appearance — you  know  it's 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  85 

in  my  part  of  the  world,  and  I  see  all  my  friends 
there." 

The  real  gist  of  these  explanations  and  excuses  was 
summed  up  at  the  end  of  the  sentence  : 

"  I  say,  Miss  Glyn,  if  I  do  manage  to  turn  up — will 
you  keep  a  couple  of  waltzes  for  me  ?  " 

At  which  request  the  young  lady  coloured,  and 
replied  : 

"  Yes,  with  pleasure." 


By  and  by  the  little  seed  planted  by  Mrs.  Hesketh 
began  to  peep  above  ground,  and  Letty  Glyn's  will 
came  to  life.  It  made  its  first  appearance  on  the  arrival 
of  certain  patterns  from  London,  and  the  question  of 
a  selection  from  among  these,  for  a  best  afternoon, 
and  two  evening  dresses.  Mrs.  Fenchurch  was  not  dis- 
posed to  allow  her  niece  any  choice  in  the  matter. 
After  looking  at  them  critically,  and  fingering  the 
textures,  she  said  : 

"  The  dark  green  will  make  you  a  nice  afternoon 
frock  ;  and  you  will  want  a  smart  black  evening  dress, 
and  a  ball  gown.  Fletcher  can  make  them  all  with  a 
little  assistance  from  Mrs.  Cope  in  the  village.  For 
the  ball  dress,  I  fancy  this  white  brocade  trimmed  with 
apple-green  satin.    How  do  you  think  that  will  look  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  I  should  care  about  it,"  replied  Letty. 

"  What  !  "  exclaimed  her  aunt,  staring  at  her  in 
glassy  amazement,  "  it  would  be  charming.  I  remem- 
ber I  had  a  ball  dress  something  like  it  years  ago." 


86  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

"But  fashions  have  changed  since  then,"  objected 
the  girl ;  "  don't  you  think  a  dress  for  a  debutante 
should  be  soft,  and  all  white,  with  perhaps  a  little 
silver  ?  " 

"  Now,  my  dear,  what  can  you  possibly  know  about 
it  ?  " 

"  Not  much,  I  admit  ;  we  were  very  plainly  dressed 
at  school,  and  our  clothes,  I  must  confess,  were  dowdy, 
yet  now  and  then,  one  had  a  chance  of  seeing  what 
was  worn — for  instance,  at  the  opera." 

"  Do  you  mean  on  the  stage  ?  " 

"  Oh  no,  I  mean  the  lovely  elegant  Court  ladies  that 
were  in  the  boxes." 

"  Then  what  is  your  own  idea  ?  "  her  aunt  enquired 
sarcastically. 

"  I  should  like  a  soft  white  cripe  over  white  satin — 
with  some  silver  embroidery  on  the  body." 

"  Yes,  I  dare  say  you  would  !  "  sneered  Mrs.  Fen- 
church  ;  "  why  the  materials  alone  of  such  a  dress 
would  cost  at  least  ten  pounds." 

"  I  have  ten  pounds,"  was  the  unexpected  reply  ; 
then,  colouring  a  little  in  answer  to  her  aunt's  sharp 
interrogative  glance,  "  uncle  gave  it  to  me  for  a 
Christmas  box." 

For  a  moment  Mrs.  Fenchurch  was  speechless  ;  she 
had  never  heard  a  word  of  this  present,  and  to  tell 
the  truth,  Uncle  Tom  when  he  placed  the  ten-pound 
note  in  the  girl's  hand  had  said  : 

"  This  is  just  a  little  secret  between  you  and  me." 

Now  it  was  a  secret  no  longer  ! 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  37 

Mrs.  Fenchurch's  feelings  were  altogether  too  much 
for  her.  She  hastily  collected  her  patterns,  rose,  and 
without  a  word  flounced  out  of  the  room. 

It  seemed  to  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  that  this  simple  school- 
girl was  obtaining  an  extraordinary  and  disastrous 
ascendancy  not  only  in  the  village,  but  in  the  house- 
hold. The  servants — little  country  chits,  whom  she 
had  herself  trained  since  they  went  out  of  pinafores — 
would  do  anything  for  Miss  Glyn.  Sam  the  pug  (Mrs. 
Fenchurch's  own  private  dog)  had  handed  over  his 
heart  to  the  girl,  and  attached  himself  to  her  ex- 
clusively— and  as  for  Tom,  he  was  her  slave  !  It  was 
Letty,  Letty,  Letty,  all  day  ;  and  when  this  girl  began 
to  make  her  appearance  in  a  wider  circle,  would  she, 
Mrs.  Fenchurch — influential  Mrs.  Fenchurch — have  to 
take  a  back  seat  ? 

It  was  also  evident  to  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  that  of  late 
this  interloper  had  developed  in  many  ways,  and  was 
inclined  to  enter  into  conversation,  and  even  to  offer 
opinions !  This  sort  of  thing  must  be  nipped  without 
delay.  Once  she  began  to  take  an  inch,  it  would  soon 
become  an  ell — the  inch,  would  be  the  selection  of 
her  ball-gown.  It  was  too  ridiculous  that  a  girl  of 
seventeen  who  had  never  been  to  a  dance  in  her 
life,  should  dare  to  set  up  her  taste  in  opposition 
to  her  own. 

With  a  stern  resolve  implanted  in  her  mind,  Mrs. 
Fenchurch  sat  down  and  wrote  off  to  London,  order- 
ing materials,  which  included  the  white  brocade,  and 
green  satin  trimming. 


38  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

In  two  or  three  days  the  order  had  arrived,  and  after 
breakfast,  she  summoned  Letty  into  her  bedroom — a 
dehghtful  chamber  with  large  bow  windows  and 
bright  chintzes,  facing  full  south,  and  overlooking 
the  lawns. 

"You  want  to  see  me,  aunt?"  she  asked  as 
she  entered  (inwardly  quaking)  and  awaited  instruc- 
tions. 

In  the  long  glass  which  faced  them  from  floor  to 
ceiling,  Mrs.  Fenchurch  beheld  the  full-length  reflections 
of  her  niece  and  herself ;  she,  in  a  rough  tweed  gown, 
spare,  weather-beaten,  long-nosed,  elderly  ;  the  girl, 
in  a  cheap  blue  serge,  slim,  erect,  beautiful  as  the  morn- 
ing— and  with  all  her  best  days  to  come !  A  sharp 
spasm  of  anger  and  jealousy  darted  through  her  mind. 
Alas !  alas !  Her  own  best  days  had  gone  by.  She, 
Dorothy  Fenchurch,  was  entering  on  the  season  of 
the  sere  and  yellow  leaf — and  was  conscious  of  an 
agonising  self-pity. 

"  Oh  yes,  it's  about  your  ball  dress.  Here,"  tearing 
open  her  parcel,  "  are  the  materials — they  came  to- 
day." 

It  was  undeniably  a  heavy  and  matronly  brocade 
that  she  unfolded,  and  as  for  the  green  satin  ribbon, 
whatever  it  might  look  at  night,  it  was  hideous  by  day  ! 

"  Oh  !  "  exclaimed  the  girl,  "  so  you  got  the  brocade 
after  all — and  I  have  sent  for  the  white  crepe." 

"  You  have  sent  for  the  white  crepe — without  con- 
sulting me  !  "  repeated  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  speaking  as 
it  were  in  capital  letters. 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  39 

"  Well,  you  see  uncle  gave  me  the  money  to  spend 
as  I  pleased.  The  crepe  has  come  too,  and  is  really 
lovely.    May  I  show  it  to  you  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  want  to  see  it  !  I  am  amazed  at  3'our 
daring  to  do  such  a  thing  as  order  a  dress  without  my 
permission.  One  thing  I  can  promise  you,  and  that  is, 
that  it  won't  be  made  up  !  You  go  to  the  ball — if  you 
go  at  all — in  a  gown  of  my  selection." 

"  Then,  I  think,"  and  the  girl  became  very  red, 
"  that  I  will  stay  at  home.  Yes — I  should  look  too 
ridiculous." 

"  You  will  look  exactly  as  /  choose  !  "  declared  Mrs. 
Fenchurch,  suddenly  losing  her  self-control ;  the 
smouldering  resentment  which  had  been  gathering  for 
weeks  now  bursting  into  flames  ;  a  strange,  wild  fury, 
all  the  long-pent-up  grievances,  annoyances,  jealousies, 
finding  outlet  at  last.  It  must  be  confessed  that 
just  at  the  moment,  she  was  suffering  torture  from 
neuralgia  in  her  face — the  result  of  long  rides  in 
piercing  cold,  or  damp  evenings,  when  the  day's 
sport  was  over. 

"  May  I  ask  if  you  understand  your  position  here  ? 
Do  you  realise  that  but  for  me,  you  would  be  now 
out  earning  your  bread  as  a  nursery  governess— are 
you  aware,  that  ever  since  you  were  born,  your  father's 
people  have  never  given  you  a  single  penny,  and  that 
all  the  burden  of  your  maintenance  has  fallen  on  us — 
or  rather,  I  should  say,  on  7ne?  And  here,  instead  of 
being  grateful  for  a  happy  home,  and  for  every  luxury 
and  indulgence,  you  are  setting  yourself  up,  and  saying 


40  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

what  you  will  wear,  and  defying  me  to  my  face.  Go 
to  your  room — I  hate  the  sight  of  you  !  " 

Letty  had  listened  to  this  bitter  indictment  with 
rapidly  changing  colour  ;  she  knew  that  her  aunt  had 
never  cared  for  her ;  but  that  she  absolutely  hated  her, 
and  felt  her  to  be  a  burden  and  an  interloper,  came  as 
a  revelation.  She  left  the  room  in  silence,  and  Mrs. 
Fenchurch,  who  was  trembling  with  passion,  snatched 
up  the  brocade,  carried  it  into  the  maid's  working- 
room,  and  commanded  her  to  lose  no  time  about 
making  it  up  for  Miss  Glyn.  But  afterwards,  when 
she  had  cooled,  Mrs.  Fen  began  to  realise  that 
she  had  gone  too  far ;  for  once  in  her  life  she 
acknowledged  to  herself,  that  she  had  said  too 
much. 

Colonel  Fenchurch  was  surprised  and  concerned  when 
he  saw  his  niece  at  lunch  with  a  very  white  face,  and 
very  red  eyes.  She  ate  scarcely  a  morsel,  and  seemed 
to  find  considerable  difficulty  in  swallowing  or  speaking. 
On  his  wife's  brow  there  sat  a  heavy  cloud,  and  he 
noticed  the  servants  glancing  significantly  at  one 
another — something  had  happened — there  had  been 
a  blow  up  !  But  he,  being  a  cautious  and  somewhat 
nervous  little  gentleman,  talked  about  the  weather 
and  a  lame  horse,  and  withdrew  as  soon  as  possible 
into  the  shelter  of  his  smoking-room;  where  he  con- 
soled himself  with  a  recent  copy  of  the  Field,  and  a  good 
cigar. 

During  the  afternoon,  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  having 
fortified  herself  with  a  large  glass  of  port  and  quinine. 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  41 

climbed  up  to  the  top  of  the  house,  to  make  the  amende 
to  her  niece. 

"  Well,  Letty,"  she  began  as  she  entered,  "  I  am 
sorry  we  have  had  a  difference  of  opinion  ;  but  I 
suppose  you  will  allow  that  you  are  little  more  than  a 
child,  and  that  /  am  a  woman  of  experience,  and  should 
know  what  should  be  done,  and  worn,  better  than 
yourself  ?  " 

Letty  stood  up,  her  lips  twitched,  and  her  eyes  filled 
with  tears  as  she  answered  : 

"  I  am  sorry,  aunt,  that  you  are  displeased  with  me, 
and  I — I — suppose  I  was  impertinent.  I  meant  no 
harm  in  sending  for  the  crepe  dress,  and  indeed  I 
thought  it  would  save  you  buying  my  ball-gown." 

This  was  precisely  the  attitude  of  which  Mrs.  Fen- 
church  most  warmly  approved,  and  as  the  girl  looked 
completely  cowed,  she  said  : 

"  I  am  sorry  that  I  lost  my  temper — so  let  us  make 
it  up  ;  and  as  you  have  bought  the  white  crepe,  you 
shall  wear  it.  The  other  will  come  in  later,"  and 
having  offered,  what  she  considered,  a  most  remarkable 
concession,  Mrs.  Fen  kissed  her  niece  sharply,  and 
walked  downstairs.  After  she  had  departed,  Letty 
stood  listening  to  her  descending  footsteps  ;  somehow 
her  aunt's  footsteps,  coming  or  going,  invariably  made 
her  heart  flutter  like  that  of  some  terrified  animal. 
When  the  last  sound  had  died  away,  she  flung  herself 
down  upon  her  bed.  She  didn't  care  about  the  ball, 
or  the  crepe  dress — or  anything  !  She  was  an  inter- 
loper ;  no  one  wanted  her.     How  bitter  it  was,  to  eat 


42  THE  SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

bread  that  was  begrudged.     In  what  sliape  or  form 
could  she  ever  find  release  ? 

It  was  agonising  to  reflect,  that  she  might  go  on  living 
month  after  month,  and  year  after  year,  under  the 
roof  of  a  woman  who  had  called  her  a  pauper,  and  a 
burden. 


CHAPTER    IV 

THE  great  day  dawned  at  last ;  the  day  of  the 
Hunt  Ball,  which  took  place  annually  in  the 
Town  Hall  of  Ridgefield,  and  was  attended  by  every- 
body who  was  anyone — and  many  nobodies. 

Letty's  white  crepe,  completed  with  her  assistance, 
was  charming  ;  soft,  girlish,  and  yet  distinguished — 
for  her  mental  eye  had  copied  it  from  one  of  the  trous- 
seau gowns  of  a  young  and  royal  princess. 

Mrs.  Fenchurch,  who  was  not  remarkable  for  her 
taste  in  dress,  wore  a  ginger-coloured  velvet,  with  opal 
ornaments  ;  but  she  carried  herself  with  dignity  and 
looked  a  Claremont,  and  a  personage  !  Colonel  Fen- 
church, in  his  pink  coat,  black  satin  breeches,  and  neat 
silk  stockings,  squeezed  himself  into  the  brougham, 
with  many  compliments  for  his  two  companions. 

The  town  of  Ridgefield  was  eight  miles  away,  and  as 
the  family  bowled  along  the  road  at  a  steady  pace,  the 
Colonel  dozed,  his  wife  meditated  with  closed  eyes  ; 
but  their  niece  all  the  time  stared  out  on  the  brown 
hedges  and  bare  ditches,  which  were  illuminated  by 
the  flashing  carriage  lamps.  Of  what  was  she  think- 
ing ?  Was  it  possible  that  she  was  wondering  if  Lance- 
lot Lumley  would  be  at  the  ball  ? 

The  Holt  party  were  somewhat  late  arrivals,  and 

43 


44  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

when  the  carriage  drew  up  under  an  awning  in  front 
of  the  Town  Hall,  the  first  to  step  out  and  run  the 
gauntlet  of  many  spectators  was  Colonel  Fenchurch. 
He  had  a  remarkably  well-turned  leg,  and  looked  par- 
ticularly spruce.  His  wife  followed  with  impressive 
dehberation,  and  last  of  all  came  the  young  lady  in 
white.  Her  appearance  was  greeted  with  a  loud 
murmur,  as  she  floated  up  the  steps  in  the  wake  of  her 
relations. 

As  they  left  the  cloak-room,  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  who 
had  received  many  greetings,  was  confronted  with  a 
lady  in  a  superb  sable  cloak ;  a  handsome  woman  with 
flashing  black  eyes,  and  wearing  in  her  hair  a  magni- 
ficent diamond  ornament. 

"  Oh,  Mrs.  Fen,"  she  exclaimed,  "  how  are  you  ? 
Going  strong,  eh  ?  "  Then  her  eyes  suddenly  alighted 
on  Mrs.  Fen's  companion,  and  she  gave  her  a  hard, 
critical  stare. 

"  Ah,  I  suppose  this  little  girl  is  the  niece  ?  going  to 
take  her  prehminary  canter  ?  "  and  with  a  patronising 
nod,  she  passed  on  to  the  dressing-room. 

Lctty  encountered  her  aunt's  eye,  who,  seizing  her 
arm  to  lead  her  forward,  said  : 

"  That  is  Mrs.  Flashman,  a  wonderful  rider,  but  an 
odious,  detestable  creature,  who  slams  gates,  jostles  you 
at  fences,  and  swears  at  her  horses,  and  her  servants." 

Two  minutes  later,  Miss  Glyn  found  herself  with  a 
programme  in  her  hand,  standing  in  the  ball-room. 
This  was  beautifully  decorated,  a  military  band  was 
established  in  the  gallery,  and  the  sides  of  the  room 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  45 

and  a  sort  of  platform  at  the  upper  end  were  densely 
crowded  with  guests.  Others  were  promenading  up 
and  down  impatiently  awaiting  the  next  waltz.  Many 
neighbours  had  brought  large  house  parties,  whose 
smart  gowns  and  splendid  jewels,  gave  an  air  of 
London  society  to  the  Brakesley  Hunt  Ball. 

Mrs.  Fenchurch  paced  slowly  towards  the  dais.  On 
her  way,  she  encountered  several  acquaintances,  and 
introduced  her  niece  to  Lord  Seafield — a  thin  young 
man  with  a  very  prominent  nose  and  no  chin — to  Sir 
Edgar  Broome,  the  M.F.H.,  and  to  the  Dowager 
Duchess  of  Campshire. 

Before  ascending  the  platform,  she  was  accosted 
by  Lancelot  Lumley,  who  came  forward  eagerly,  pro- 
gramme in  hand,  and  said  : 

"  I  hope  Miss  Glyn  can  spare  me  a  couple  of 
waltzes  ?  " 

Miss  Glyn  promptly  produced  her  programme,  and  he 
scribbled  his  initials  before  three.  The  next,  which 
was  just  beginning,  the  one  before  supper,  and  number 
twelve. 

Mrs.  Fenchurch  looked  on  with  glum  disapproval. 
Three  dances  to  an  impecunious  subaltern  !  But  she 
could  not  offer  any  audible  objection,  and  as  the  band 
struck  up  he  said  : 

"  Shall  we  make  a  start  now  before  the  room  gets 
crammed  ?  "  and  light  as  a  feather  the  young  lady  was 
whirled  away,  and  the  elder  was  compelled  to  mount 
to  the  platform  alone.  But  from  this  and  other  coigns 
of  vantage,  the  extraordinary  beauty  of  Miss  Glyn  was 


46  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

soon  remarked.  Indeed,  her  own  chaperon,  as  she 
surveyed  her  through  her  best  gold  glasses,  assured 
herself,  that  she  had  never  until  now  realised  the  girl's 
astonishing  good  looks  !  Of  course  dress  went  a  long 
way,  so  did  youth — and  candle-light  ;  but  Letty's 
profile  was  perfect,  her  complexion,  the  shape  of  her 
face,  the  setting  on  of  her  head,  were  beyond  criticism 
— and  then  her  grace  ! 

As  Dorothy  Fenchurch  watched  the  white  form 
revolving  round  and  round,  she  began  to  experience 
an  intoxicating  sensation  ;  the  stimulating  conviction 
was  borne  in  upon  her,  that  she  had  a  valuable  prize 
to  offer  in  the  marriage  market ! 

Seen  just  at  home,  running  about  in  her  school 
frocks  and  garden  apron,  Letty  was  merely  a  pretty 
girl,  with  lots  of  hair,  and  a  good  complexion  ;  here, 
in  the  midst  of  the  magnates  of  the  land,  she  was  the 
beauty  of  the  evening  !  People — her  neighbours — 
gathered  about  Mrs,  Fenchurch  and  began  to  talk, 
discussing  local  news,  the  recent  weather,  the  various 
notable  magnates  who  had  honoured  the  ball. 

"  I  say,  Mrs.  Fen,  have  you  noticed  the  lovely  nymph 
in  white  and  silver  ?  "  enquired  the  Secretary  of  the 
Hunt.  "  I  haven't  seen  anything  so  exquisite  for 
years  ;  do  let  me  show  her  to  j^ou  ?  " 

"  There  is  no  occasion,  thank  you,  she  is  my  niece. 
Miss  Glyn,"  proclaimed  the  uplifted  aunt. 

"  What — your  niece  ?  "  echoed  a  matron.  "  Why, 
my  dear  lady,  where  have  you  kept  her  all  this 
time  ?  " 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  47 

"  She  has  only  been  with  us  about  two  months." 

"  And  you  have  defrauded  us  of  two  months,"  burst 
in  a  young  man.    "  Mrs.  Fen,  how  dared  you  ?  " 

"  No,  no,"  protested  Mrs.  Flashman  of  the  bold  eyes 
and  a  scandalously  decollete  dress.  "  Mrs.  Fenchurch 
is  a  clever  woman.  She  understands  the  art  of  an  effec- 
tive surprise  !  " 

By  this  time  the  music  had  ceased,  and  Miss  Glyn, 
a  little  breathless  and  looking  radiantly  happy,  was 
brought  back  to  her  aunt — now  encompassed  by  a 
number  of  men  clamouring  for  introductions.  In  the 
midst  of  this  triumphant  scene,  a  square-shouldered 
individual,  perfectly  groomed,  with  the  blue  of  his 
strong  beard  showing  through  his  heavy,  clean-shaven 
face,  stepped  up  on  the  platform.  It  was  the  psycho- 
logical moment  !  Here  was  the  girl  he  had  noticed  at 
the  gate,  surrounded  by  competitive  partners,  and  he 
said  to  himself,  "  No  wonder  !  "  This  dazzling  vision 
in  white  and  silver,  eclipsed  every  woman  in  the  room ! 
He  accosted  Mrs.  Fenchurch  with  unusual  empresse- 
ment,  and  then  glanced  interrogatively  at  her  com- 
panion. 

"  Oh,  let  me  present  you  to  my  niece — Mr.  Blagdon 
— Miss  Glyn,"  she  murmured  with  effusive  haste. 

"  Got  any  dances  to  spare  ?  "  he  asked  with  an  off- 
hand air. 

"  Yes,"  she  answered  ;  "I  have  two  or  three  left — 
but " 

"  Are  3^ou  engaged  for  the  next  ?  "  he  interrupted 
brusquely. 


48  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

As  this  happened  to  be  a  set  of  Lancers,  she  breathed 
a  reluctant  "  No." 

"Oh,  then  /  may  have  it  ?  "  he  declared,  con- 
fronting her  with  a  bold  and  confident  eye.  As  she 
yielded  her  card,  he  wrote  himself  down  for  this,  as 
well  as  two  others  (which  Letty  had  secretly  been 
keeping  for  Lancelot  Lumley).  "  H.  Blagdon  "  was 
also  marked  before  an  extra  ;  but  a  man  with  many 
thousands  a  year  is  granted  a  liberal  margin.  Mrs. 
Fenchurch  was  looking  on  ;  her  eyes  glittered,  a  real 
colour  came  into  her  thin  cheeks.  Supposing  that  he 
had  taken  a  fancy  to  Letty  ?  It  would  be  too  wonder- 
ful to  think  of  !  The  most  promising  suitor  she  had 
allowed  herself  to  expect,  was  some  officer  from  a 
neighbouring  depot  ;  but  then,  until  that  evening  she 
had  never  fully  understood  the  value  of  the  treasure 
she  had  hidden  at  The  Holt.  Now,  her  ambition, 
determination,  and  energy,  were  stirred,  and  she  was 
resolved  that  Letty  should  make  a  great  match. 
Everyone  knew  that  Hugo  Blagdon  '  barred  girls  '  : 
he  never  noticed  them,  never  danced  with  them — 
indeed,  he  rarely  danced  at  all — generally  he  sat  in  a 
remote  corner  with  some  notorious  married  woman — 
yet  here  he  was,  filling  up  the  programme  of  her  niece, 
and  devouring  her  shy  beauty  with  his  hard,  bold  eyes. 

Undoubtedly  most  people  liked  to  look  at  Letty. 
Was  there  ever  such  a  perfect  little  nose,  such  a 
short  upper  lip,  delicately  cut  mouth,  or  sweeping 
black  lashes  ? 

Presently  the  Lancers  struck  up,  and  Blagdon,  offer- 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  49 

ing  his  arm,  conducted  his  partner  down  the  room,  as 
it  were  in  triumph  ;  undoubtedly  she  was  the  star  of 
the  evening  !  As  he  passed  along,  he  noticed  that  the 
eyes  of  everyone  were  fixed  upon  his  companion.  This 
was  just  the  sort  of  girl  that  would  suit  him  for  a  wife ! 
a  girl  so  remarkable,  so  absolutely  perfect  in  appear- 
ance, that  all  the  jealous  world  would  stare  at  her 
open-mouthed. 

Having  invited  an  aristocratic  vis-d-vis,  they  took 
their  places  in  a  set  and  danced.  Blagdon  found  Miss 
Glyn  shy — she  had  not  much  to  say  for  herself.  With 
difficulty  he  gathered  that  she  didn't  hunt,  had  only 
lately  left  school,  and  was  seventeen  last  birthday  ; 
but  it  was  sufficiently  agreeable  for  him  to  feel  that 
she  was  the  cynosure  of  all  eyes,  and  that  he  was  the 
envy  of  every  man  in  the  room  ! 

Mrs.  Flashman,  who  was  in  the  same  set,  swam 
hither  and  thither  in  her  gorgeous  French  gown,  and 
now  and  then  darted  glances  of  sarcastic  amusement 
at  her  friend  Hugo  and  the  little  baby  ;  and  whispered 
en  passant  in  the  Grand  Chain  : 

"  Where  is  the  bread  and  butter  ?  " 

The  remainder  of  that  evening  was,  from  her  aunt's 
point  of  view,  an  uninterrupted  triumph  for  Letty :  a 
number  of  influential  people  had  begged  to  make  her 
acquaintance  ;  envious  and  rancorous  rivals — mothers 
of  large  families,  had  uttered  spiteful  things  about 
Hugo  Blagdon.  He  had  taken  her  niece  to  supper, 
had  only  danced  with  her  that  night,  and  when  not 
dancing,  had  posted  himself  where  he  could  keep  her 


60  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

in  view — all  of  which  signs  and  tokens  even  the  most 
comatose  chaperon  could  not  fail  to  note  !  Oh,  it 
was  undoubtedly  a  case. 

Had  Letty  enjoyed  her  first  ball  ?  She  was  not  sure. 
She  enjoyed  dancing  with  Mr.  Lumley  and  with  various 
other  young  men  ;  she  enjoyed  the  band,  and  the  ices, 
and  loved  dancing  for  dancing's  sake,  but  somehow 
there  seemed  to  be  between  Mr.  Lumley  and  Mr. 
Blagdon  a  sharp  but  secret  conflict  for  her  company. 
When  she  was  swinging  round  in  the  arms  of  Mr. 
Lumley,  she  was  aware  that  the  other  was  watching 
them  closely  ;  and  when  it  was  Blagdon 's  dance  he 
stalked  up  and  claimed  her  with  an  air  of  appropriation, 
that  she  found  both  disagreeable  and  disconcerting. 

However  she  danced  the  last  waltz  that  evening 
with  the  soldier — who  informed  her  that  he  had  come 
all  the  way  from  Aldershot  on  purpose  to  claim  her 
promise  !  He  was  so  good-looking,  he  had  a  charming 
voice  and  such  nice  eyes  ;  little  Letty 's  heart  beat 
quickly,  and  the  colour  came  into  her  cheeks. 

"  Give  my  love  to  Aunt  Harriet,"  he  said  ;  "  and 
tell  her  that  I  will  run  over  and  see  her  before  very 
long,  and  stay  three  or  four  days." 

For  a  moment  the  girl  felt  ecstatically  happy,  inspired 
by  an  unreasoning  joy  and  strangely  moved  and  up- 
lifted ;  but  it  was  Mr.  Blagdon  who  escorted  her  to 
have  a  cup  of  soup  at  the  buffet  before  she  departed, 
who  stared  at  her  with  an  expression  that  frightened 
her,  and  who  conducted  her  down  to  the  entrance  hall 
through  a  long  line  of  spectators.    And  never  had 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  51 

Letty  known  her  aunt  to  be  so  gracious,  so  affec- 
tionate, or  in  such  talkative  good-humour  ;  she  had 
actually  called  her  '  darling  !  ' 

"  I  hope  you  are  well  wrapped  up,"  she  urged  ; 
"  take  care  of  your  dress,  darling." 

"  And  mind  you  take  great  care  of  her,"  supple- 
mented Blagdon  at  the  carriage  window.  He  held  out 
his  hand  to  Letty,  kept  hers  an  unnecessary  length  of 
time,  and  squeezed  it  painfully  ere  he  closed  the  door 
of  the  brougham  and  they  drove  off.  The  last  object 
she  beheld,  thrown  into  sharp  relief  by  the  glaring 
lamps  and  red  carpet,  was  his  hard,  staring  brown 
eyes,  his  stohd,  complacent  face,  and  she  sank  into  her 
corner  with  a  sigh  of  relief.  Thank  goodness  she  would 
never  see  him  again  ! 

She  was  to  hear  of  him,  however  !  On  the  way 
home  her  aunt  loudly  sang  the  praises  of  Hugo  Blagdon, 
the  richest  man  in  the  county.  He  had  the  most  lovely 
place,  and  was  so  popular  ;  he  had  travelled  a  great 
deal,  and  owned  a  yacht  and  a  coach,  indeed  every- 
thing— just  like  a  prince  in  a  fairy  tale.  During  all 
these  eulogiums  and  dazzling  descriptions  Colonel 
Fenchurch  maintained  an  unusual  silence. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  him,  Letty  ?  "  he  enquired 
at  last. 

"  He  dances  well,"  she  answered  carelessly,  "  though 
he  soon  gets  out  of  breath,  and  has  rather  an  old- 
fashioned  step." 

"  Well,  there  is  not  a  woman  in  this  part  of  the  world 
that  isn't  delighted  to  have  him  for  a  partner,"  said 


52  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

her  aunt,  with  an  air  of  finahty  ;  then,  changing  the 
subject,  she  proceeded  to  discuss  the  ball  in  detail, 
from  the  decorations  to  the  soup.  Her  remarks  about 
the  guests — especially  girls  —  were  not  altogether 
generous  ;  now  that  she  had,  so  to  speak,  her  own 
goods  to  offer,  Mrs.  Fenchurch  was  a  merciless  critic 
of  the  wares  of  others. 

"  Did  you  notice  Lady  Vera,  Tom  ?  She's  supposed 
to  be  a  beauty,  a  tall,  scraggy,  spotty  creature,  with 
a  wreath  over  her  nose  ?  "  A  pause.  "  And  how  can 
Mrs.  Reed  allow  her  daughters  to  be  seen  in  such  filthy 
frocks  ! — anything  good  enough  for  the  country. 
Those  poor  Bradfields  hardly  left  their  seats — so 
humiliating  for  a  chaperon  to  have  her  charges  on 
hand  all  the  time — what  do  you  say,  Tom  ?  " 

But  Tom's  sole  reply  was  a  gentle  snore. 

Then,  turning  to  Letty  and  stroking  her  arm,  her 
aunt  said  : 

"  My  dear  child,  you  were  perfectly  right  about  the 
white  crepe,  you  looked  charming — charming  !  I  was 
proud  of  you  !  "  and  as  she  pinched  her  wrist,  play- 
fully, the  girl,  with  the  quick  insight  of  youth,  divined 
that  here  was  an  entirely  different  relative  to  the  one 
who  had  told  her  she  was  a  '  pauper,  and  a  burden.' 
She  now  addressed  her,  as  if  she  were  an  equal — and 
indeed  there  was  actually  a  tinge  of  deference  in  her 
remarks.    What  did  it  mean  ? 

The  Belle  of  the  Hunt  Ball  toiled  up  to  bed  tired 
and  footsore  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning.  She  had 
enjoyed  the  evening  immensely,  and  yet  she  had  not 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  53 

enjoyed  it !  On  the  one  hand,  there  was  the  dancing, 
the  good  partners,  the  charming  things  people  had 
said  to  her,  and  the  agreeable  inward  conviction  of 
having  been  whispered  about,  and  admired  ;  on  the 
other,  there  was  the  rich  man,  with  his  staring  eyes 
and  brusque,  imperious  manner — and  the  inexplicable 
rise  in  the  temperature  of  her  aunt's  affection.  What 
did  it  mean  ? 

And  still  wondering,  Letty  tumbled  into  bed,  and 
presently  entered  the  land  of  dreams. 


CHAPTER   V 

THE  morning  after  the  ball,  Letty  was  aroused 
from  the  profound  sleep  of  youth  and  exhaustion 
by  a  stealthy,  grating  sound,  and  opening  her  eyes,  to 
her  amazement  she  beheld  Jones,  the  under -house- 
maid, kneeling  on  the  hearth-rug,  intent  on  kindling  a 
particularly  sulky  fire. 

As  she  raised  herself  on  her  elbow,  blinking  and  be- 
wildered, the  maid  sat  up  on  her  heels  and  proceeded 
to  explain  the  situation  with  glib  volubility. 

"  Oh,  miss,  I'm  sorry  ;  the  mistress  gave  orders  you 
were  not  to  be  disturbed,  and  I  was  to  light  your  fire  ; 
but  there  ain't  been  one  in  the  grate  this  forty  year, 
and  it's  a  sore  job.  Hawkins  is  bringing  up  your 
breakfast." 

As  she  spoke,  the  door-handle  turned  and  Hawkins 
entered,  bearing  with  unusual  pomp  and  circumstance 
a  heavily  laden  tray.  Letty  rubbed  her  eyes.  Was  she 
still  dreaming  ?  Why  were  the  two  maids  in  waiting 
upon  her  ?  She  was  well  aware  that  her  aunt  considered 
bedroom  fires  unnecessary,  and  breakfast  in  bed  a 
slothful  indulgence.  She,  however,  dissembled  her 
surprise,  and  accepted  these  unexpected  favours  with 
commendable  composure. 

54 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  65 

Having  nibbled  at  some  buttered  toast  and  swallowed 
a  cup  of  tea,  she  sprang  out  of  bed  to  search  for  her 
programme,  and  survey  herself  in  the  glass.  In  the  glass 
she  beheld  an  oval  face,  a  pair  of  drowsy  blue  eyes,  a 
pair  of  soft  pink  cheeks,  and  a  mass  of  tumbled  brown 
hair.  Was  she  beautiful  ?  she  wondered.  Mr.  Blagdon 
had  implied  as  much — indeed,  more  than  implied. 
What  bad  manners  to  make  blunt  personal  remarks ! 
Well,  his  opinion  was  of  no  consequence  ;  but  did 
other  people  think  her  pretty  ?  (Other  people  natur- 
ally included  Lancelot  Lumley.  She  confessed  to 
herself  that  she  would  like  him  to  admire  her.) 

Oh,  how  cold  it  was  !  She  curled  up  her  delicate 
little  toes,  and,  programme  in  hand,  plunged  once 
more  into  her  comfortable  nest.  Here  she  prepared 
to  study  at  leisure  the  exciting  contents  of  her  precious 
card — no  easy  task.  The  card  was  covered  with 
scribbled  names,  sketches,  initials,  stars,  hierogly- 
phics, corrections — and  yet,  on  the  whole,  it  made 
agreeable  reading. 

In  the  midst  of  this  interesting  occupation  the  door 
opened  very  gently — the  programme  disappeared  as 
if  in  the  hands  of  a  conjurer — and  Mrs.  Fenchurch 
advanced  into  the  room  showing  all  her  upper  teeth, 
a  sure  signal  of  unusual  amiability. 

"  Well,  my  dear  girl,"  she  began,  "  how  are  you  to- 
day ?    Dead  ?  " 

"  Oh  no,"  sitting  erect  ;  "  I'm  all  right,  thank  you, 
Aunt  Dorothy." 

"  I  thought  you'd  better  have  a  good  sleep  after 


S6  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

your  first  ball.  My  !  "  as  her  glance  fell  upon  a  tattered 
garment,  "  look  at  your  poor  frock  !  " 

Yes,  indeed,  there  was  a  large  obtrusive  rent  in  the 
skirt,  and  a  streamer  of  ragged  crepe  made  no  attempt 
at  concealment.  Yet  instead  of  the  expected  sharp 
scolding,  Mrs.  Fenchurch  merely  remarked  : 

"  How  you  danced  1  You  could  have  filled  your 
card  ten  times  over.  By  the  way,  may  I  look  at  your 
programme  ?  I  see  the  blue  tassel  sticking  out  under 
your  pillow." 

With  much  reluctance,  and  deep  and  guilty  blushes, 
Letty  produced  the  desired  treasure  and  yielded  it  to 
her  visitor,  who  was  now  staring  at  her  so  fixedly,  that 
one  would  almost  suppose  that  she  beheld  her  for  the 
first  time  1  In  her  mind's  eye,  Mrs.  Fenchurch  really 
was  contemplating  an  absolutely  strange  niece  !  So 
this  simple,  timid,  obedient,  little  schoolgirl,  uncon- 
sciously possessed  the  fatal  endowment,  the  wonderful, 
invincible  power,  that  has  moved  armies  and  fleets. 
Unquestionably,  Letty  had  the  gift ;  and  her  relative 
was  determined  to  turn  it  to  the  utmost  advantage. 

With  the  record  of  her  niece's  partners  in  her  hand, 
Mrs.  Fenchurch  seated  herself,  squarely,  comfortably, 
and  sociably  on  the  bed,  and  proceeded  to  discuss  the 
ball,  and  its  incidents,  with  all  the  zest  and  vivacity  of 
one  of  the  girl's  own  contemporaries. 

"  How  weU  I  remember  my  first  ball,"  she  said 
meditatively  ;  "  I  was  so  frightened  my  teeth  actually 
chattered  as  we  drove  to  it,  and,  after  all,  I  enjoyed 
myself  enormously.    I  wore  white,  of  course,  looped  up 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  57 

with  water  lilies,  and  I  remember  a  spiteful  cousin 
asking  me  if  they  were  not  spinach  and  eggs  !  Girls 
are  so  jealous  !    Now  let  me  see  who  you  danced  with — 

um — um — ^um "   nodding  her  head   as   her   eyes 

travelled  over  the  card.  "  Lord  Deloraine  twice — but, 
of  course,  he  is  married — and  what  about  the  Duke  ?  " 
looking  up  quickly. 

"  I  had  not  a  dance  left." 

"  Who  is  V.  K.  ?  Oh  yes,  I  know — the  Austrian 
Attache  staying  with  the  Beauvoirs.  H.  B.,  H.  B., 
H.  B.  Oh,  Letty  !  How  often  did  you  dance  with 
Hugo  Blagdon  ?  " 

"  Two  or  three  times,"  she  answered  stiffly,  having 
made  up  her  mind  to  give  her  aunt  no  satisfaction  with 
respect  to  this  over-bearing  odious  partner. 

"  He  took  you  in  to  supper,  dear,  too,"  continued 
Mrs.  Fenchurch  ;  "  and,  oh  yes,"  nodding  her  head 
and  trying  to  look  arch,  "  /  saw  you  sitting  together 
in  the  long  corridor.  Tell  me,  what  did  you  talk 
about  ?  "  and  she  gazed  into  the  girl's  face  with  a  pair 
of  penetrating  asking  eyes. 

How  Letty  wished  she  would  not  stare  at  her  in 
this  fashion,  and  breathe  through  her  nose.  Positively 
her  aunt  filled  her  with  sheer  physical  terror — yes, 
and  repulsion. 

"  I  really  can't  remember,  Aunt  Dorothy.  I  think  he 
said  the  supper  was  bad." 

"  But  surely  he  paid  you  some  pretty  compliment  ?  " 
persisted  her  tormentor.  "  Come  now  ?  "  she  urged 
coaxingly. 


58  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

"  I  dare  say  he  did — I — I  forget." 

"  Did  he  say  anything  about  coming  over  here  to 
call  ?  "  and  her  tone  was  anxious. 

"  I — I'm  not  sure,"  murmured  the  girl,  who  mentally 
writhed  under  this  inquisition.  Never  in  her  life  had 
she  felt  so  mortally  shamefaced  and  shrinking.  She 
longed  to  pull  the  bedclothes  over  her  head  and 
hide  herself  away,  from  that  inflexibly  soliciting 
countenance. 

Her  reluctant  replies  were  so  vague  and  unsatis- 
factory, that  at  last  her  chaperon  realised  she  could 
not  get  much  out  of  Letty  as  yet — all  in  good  time  ! 
Again  she  gazed  at  her  niece  long  and  thoughtfully,  as 
though  seeing  in  her  a  multitude  of  new  possibilities ; 
then,  rising,  she  said  in  her  brisk,  every-day  manner  : 

"  I'll  tell  Jones  to  bring  up  your  bath  water — • 
it  is  nearly  twelve  o'clock,"  and  Mrs.  Fen  took  her 
departure,  leaving  the  girl  with  a  grateful  sense  of 
pressure  removed,  and  a  happy  consciousness  of  relief. 

When,  an  hour  later,  the  beauty  of  the  Hunt  Ball 
descended  to  the  morning-room,  she  found  herself  still 
surrounded  by  an  atmosphere  of  indulgence  and  affec- 
tion. Her  aunt  handed  her  a  novel  to  read  ;  as  a  rule 
light  literature  was  tabooed  till  nightfall — and  at 
lunch  Mrs.  Fen  helped  her  poor  relation  to  the  liver 
wing,  and  commanded  Hawkins  to  give  Miss  Glyn  a 
glass  of  claret. 

When  Hawkins  had  withdrawn,  after  serving  the 
coffee,  Mrs.  Fenchurch  cleared  her  throat  and  said : 

"  The  Bonhams  are  having  a  young  people's  dance 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  59 

this  day  week,  and  Lady  Bonham  has  asked  me  to  go 
over  and  take  you,  Letty,  and  stay  all  night.  How 
would  you  like  that  ?  " 

"  It  would  be  delightful — another  dance  1  "  and  her 
eyes  sparkled. 

"I've  been  talking  to  Fletcher  this  morning,  and  she 
thinks  that  if  I  have  Mrs.  Cope  up  from  the  village  she 
may  be  able  to  make  the  white  brocade  and  the  green 
cloth.  I  dare  say  you  won't  mind  giving  a  little  assist- 
ance yourself  ?  " 

"  No,  indeed,  Aunt  Dorothy.  I  shall  be  delighted. 
I'm  rather  good  at  sewing." 

"  Oh,  here  comes  Cousin  Maude." 

"  Well,  Letty,  here  I  am,"  said  Mrs.  Hesketh,  as  she 
entered.  "  I've  come  to  hear  about  the  ball,  how 
everyone  looked  and  behaved,  what  they  wore,  who 
sat  out  as  wallflowers,  or  otherwise  ?  and  I  particularly 
wish  to  see  your  programme.  I  haven't  had  one  in 
my  hand  for  ten  years.    Where  is  it  ?  " 

"  How  tiresome,"  thought  the  girl ;  one  would 
suppose  that  her  wretched  httle  card,  was  something 
remarkable. 

The  programme  happened  to  be  at  the  top  of  the 
house,  and  when  Letty  returned  with  it  in  her  hand 
she  found  her  aunt  talking  to  Cousin  Maude  with  un- 
usual empressement.  She  was  sitting  close  beside  her 
on  the  sofa,  pouring  some  important  statement  into 
her  ear. 

Whatever  she  was  saying  was  interrupted  by  the 
entrance  of  her  niece,  who  caught  the  words  : 


60  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

"  Eyes  for  no  one  else  1 "  Mrs.  Fenchurch  paused  and 
nodded  significantly  at  her  companion,  as  much  as  to 
say: 

"  Of  this— more  later." 

"  And  so  I  hear  your  dress  looked  lovely,  Letty,  and 
that  you  had  a  great  success.  Now  hand  me  over 
that  programme,"  said  Mrs.  Hesketh  with  a  smile. 
"  Ah,  yes,  I  see  every  dance,  and  all  manner  of  strange 
autographs  and  initials.  I  declare  you  ought  to  have 
this  photographed !  And  so  you  enjoyed  yourself  very 
much,  dear  child  ?  " 

"  Oh,  immensely,"  she  answered,  with  a  happy  sigh ; 
the  little  drawbacks  were  now  fading,  the  strains  of  a 
delicious  waltz  were  ringing  in  her  ears,  and  she  was 
floating  round  the  room  in  the  arms  of  Lancelot 
Lumley. 

"  And  you  are  going  to  a  dinner  and  dance  this  day 
week — why,  you  are  getting  quite  gay  !  " 

"  Well,  you  see.  Cousin  Maude,  I  am  '  out  '  now." 

"  Yes,  you  have  stretched  your  little  wings  and 
flown  beyond  the  village  into  what  is  called  the  world. 
I  wonder  how  you  will  like  it  ?  " 

"  Very  much,  I  think,  as  far  as  I  have  seen." 

"  And  that  amounts  to  one  ball.  What  experi- 
ence  ! 

"  Letty  has  not  seen  much,"  admitted  Mrs.  Fen- 
church ;  "  but  our  little  world  has  now  seen  her,"  and 
she  smiled  complacently.  "  Ah,  there  is  Wilson,  of 
course,  somebody  wants  me.  Oh,  I  really  never  have 
five  minutes  to  myself.     I   expect   it   is  about   the 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  61 

carpenter.  Don't  go  away  before  I  come  back, 
Maudie,"  and  she  bustled  out  of  the  room. 

"  Now,  my  dear  child,"  said  Mrs.  Hesketh,  dragging 
her  down  beside  her  on  the  sofa,  "  tell  me  really  and 
truly,  all  about  last  evening.  Was  it  as  nice  as  you 
expected  ?  " 

"  Yes— every  Lit." 

"  And  which  of  your  partners  did  you  like  the  best  ? 
Come,  honour  bright." 

Letty  reflected  for  a  moment. 

"  As  far  as  dancing  went,  there  was  an  Austrian 
Attache  who  danced  like  a  dream — but,  of  course,  I 
knew  Mr.  Lumley  before." 

"  And  what  of  Mr.  Blagdon  ?  "  enquired  her  friend 
with  a  searching  look. 

"  Oh,  he  was  rather  heavy,  and  easily  tired  and  out 
of  breath — of  course,  he  is  old," 

"  Old  !  Why,  I  don't  believe  he  is  a  day  more  than 
six  or  seven  and  thirty,  the  prime  of  life  !  Apparently 
Lancelot  Lumley  and  Mr.  Blagdon  were  your  two 
most  favoured  partners — but,  my  dear  girl,  I  cannot 
allow  you  to  have  anything  to  say  to  either  of 
them." 

Letty  burst  into  a  ringing  laugh  :  her  laugh  was 
spontaneous  and  delightful. 

"  Why  not  ?  "  she  demanded. 

"  One  is  too  poor,  and  the  other  is  too  rich." 

"  But,  Cousin  Maudie,  surely  one  doesn't  think  of 
such  things  as  future  husbands — just  at  a  dance  ?  " 

"  Oh,   well,   I   don't   suppose  that   you  do,"   and 


62  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

she  turned  away  and  stared  into  the  fire.  For 
several  minutes  she  did  not  speak,  then  at  last  she 
said  : 

"  You  must  promise  never  to  take  a  fancy  to  any- 
body without  giving  me  due  notice,  and  the  next  time 
you  go  to  a  dance  you  are  to  leave  your  heart  with  me. 
You  shall  have  it  back  with  interest." 

"  I  don't  think  I  have  that  kind  of  heart.  I'm 
afraid  my  heart  is  hard;  I  don't  care  for  many 
people ;  but  I  am  very  very  fond  of  uncle  and  of 
you — and  of  Sam." 

"  And  where  does  your  aunt  come  in  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  see,  Aunt  Dorothy  is  not — er — my  own 
aunt.  I  don't  fancy  that  she  has  much  sympathy  with 
girls — her  mind  is  taken  up  with  other  things," 

"  Yes,  she  is  a  born  administrator  and  manager ; 
not  merely  of  her  own  affairs ;  she  has  a  wide 
horizon.  I  believe  one  of  her  ancestors  must  have 
been  a  Prime  Minister.  Doodie  is  ready  to  take  a 
hand  in  anyone's  life,  and  at  a  moment's  notice. 
Supposing  a  stranger  were  to  fall  ill  in  the  village, 
she  would  come  forward  at  once,  find  them  a  nurse 
and  doctor ;  if  they  died,  wire  to  their  friends,  arrange 
for  the  funeral,  buy  the  grave,  and  see  that  they 
were  laid  in  it !  In  your  case,  she  is  not  contemplating 
a  funeral — but  a  wedding  !  " 

"  I — I — don't  understand,"  stammered  the  girl. 

"  Don't  you,  my  simple  darling  ?  Well,  there  is  one 
fact  that  you  may  possibly  grasp — your  aunt  is  mon- 
strously proud  of  you ;  the  Chippendale  sideboard,  and 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  63 

the  three-year-old  thoroughbred  are  for  the  present 
languishing  in  the  cold  shade.    Ah,  here  she  comes  !  " 


The  white  brocade  (trimmed  with  lace  instead  of  the 
despised  green  ribbon)  was  completed  in  good  time, 
and  Letty  and  her  aunt,  with  their  luggage  on  the  car- 
riage, drove  off  to  Bonham  Court  in  high  spirits.  It 
was  a  large,  rambling  old  place,  occupied  by  a  childless 
couple  who  had  a  passion  for  the  society  of  young 
people.  First  of  all,  there  was  a  merry  gathering  at 
tea  in  the  big  hall.  Here  Mrs.  Fenchurch  was  agreeably 
surprised  to  recognise  Mr.  Blagdon,  who  welcomed  her 
and  her  niece  with  flattering  cordiality. 

At  dinner  pretty  Miss  Glyn  was  his  vis-d-vis  ;  she 
was  placed  between  two  boys — an  Etonian  and  a 
young  fellow  lately  gazetted  to  the  Guards — and  they 
appeared  to  be  enjoying  themselves  immensely.  He 
had  every  opportunity  of  studying  her  at  his  leisure, 
ignoring  his  partner — who  noticed,  with  smouldering 
resentment,  that  his  whole  attention  was  devoted  to 
the  little  girl  opposite — a  Miss  Glyn  that  everyone  was 
talking  about.  She  certainly  had  a  wonderful  com- 
plexion— if  it  was  her  own  ! — and  a  profile,  clear  cut 
as  a  cameo — yes — and  youth  !  The  neglected  lady 
asked  herself  if  it  could  be  possible,  that  this  hope- 
lessly dull  parti,  who  sat  beside  her  drinking  glass 
after  glass  of  champagne,  was  thinking  seriously  of 
that  simple  and  innocent  child  ? 

After  dinner  there  was  dancing  in  the  great  hall. 


64  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

Mr,  Blagdon  danced  several  times  with  Letty,  and  she 
found  him  less  formidable  than  on  the  former  occasion, 
not  so  grand,  detached,  or  condescending.  She  hked 
him  better,  or  to  put  it  more  correctly,  disliked  him 
less.  He  now  talked  as  an  ordinary  partner,  and  not 
as  a  far-removed  magnificent  potentate ;  spoke  of  his 
dogs  and  horses  and  gardens,  and  hoped  that  she 
might  one  day  see  them  ! 

Subsequently  he  made  himself  conspicuously  atten- 
tive to  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  sat  out  with  her,  and  engaged 
her  in  a  long  conversation  in  the  drawing-room,  prom- 
enaded by  her  side  in  the  picture  gallery,  and  finally 
conducted  her  to  supper.  This,  to  the  experienced, 
was  a  registered  symptom  that  the  great  Blagdon 
had  intentions  respecting  the  lady's  niece !  and  the 
same  happy  matron,  as  she  sat  beside  him  at 
table,  had  much  ado  to  quench  the  exultation  in 
her  face. 

The  following  afternoon  the  party  broke  up,  and  the 
gay  and  cheery  company  that  sped  Letty  and  her 
aunt,  little  guessed  how  the  girl  shrank  from  the  im- 
pending and  enforced  tete-d-tete  in  the  family  brougham. 
She  dreaded  the  ordeal  as  if  she  were  about  to  undergo 
some  painful  physical  operation  ;  with  aU  her  muscles 
tense,  and  leaning  far  back  in  her  corner,  she  submitted, 
whilst  her  companion,  in  her  most  insinuating  voice, 
so  to  speak,  put  the  question  or  questions,  in  return 
receiving,  it  must  be  confessed,  very  brief,  and  crooked 
answers. 

The  hall  door  stood  wide  as  they  drove  up  to  The 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  65 

Holt.  Standing  on  the  steps  in  the  full  light,  Colonel 
Fenchurch  shouted  a  hearty  welcome. 

He  backed  into  the  hall  in  front  of  the  arrivals, 
talking  all  the  time. 

"  Missed  you  both  desperately — no  piquet — no 
music — ready  to  hang  myself  last  night.  I  say,  I've 
kept  the  toast  and  scones  warm  inside  the  fender — tea 
will  be  ready  in  a  jiff.  Lots  of  letters  for  you, 
Doodie." 

As  they  entered  the  warm,  well-lighted  drawing- 
room,  he  turned  about  to  face  the  ladies,  and  noticed 
that  his  little  girl  looked  brilliantly  pretty,  as  she  laid 
her  cold  cheek  against  his,  and  said  : 

"  Such  a  delightful  party.  Uncle  Tom,  and  one  of 
the  Barrens — Sophy — was  at  my  school." 

Yes,  he  said  to  himself,  it  was  nice  for  the  child 
to  mix  with  young  people  of  her  own  age — it  did 
her  good. 

When  tea  was  over  and  uncle  and  niece  found  them- 
selves alone,  she  came  and  sat  on  the  arm  of  his  chair, 
and  rattled  off  an  amusing  description  of  her  visit,  and 
repeated  for  his  entertainment  many  of  the  jokes  and 
anecdotes  that  had  been  bandied  about  among  the 
company :  enumerated  the  names  of  the  guests,  and 
even  of  the  Bonham  house  dogs,  but  made  no  mention 
whatever  of  the  great  Hugo  Blagdon. 


Mrs.  Fenchurch  felt  unusually  elated :  being  fnmly 
persuaded  that  she  was  about  to  have  the  glory  and 


66  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

gratification  of  setting  in  motion  a  triumphal  drama 
of  real  life  ;  and  the  morning  after  her  return  she 
sought  her  husband  in  the  smoking-room,  generously 
resolved,  that  he,  too,  should  have  a  share  in  her 
glorious  expectations. 

Having  carefully  closed  the  door,  she  came  and 
stood  by  the  fire,  and  said  in  a  low  and  almost 
awestruck  voice  : 

"  Hugo  Blagdon  was  there,  Tom.  I  was  so  sur- 
prised ! " 

Her  husband  put  down  his  pipe,  and  stared  at  her 
stupidly. 

"  Why,  what  is  surprising  about  him  ?  " 

"  Oh,  nothing,  except  that  he  is  immensely  struck 
with  Letty  ;  he  as  much  as  told  me  so." 

"  Did  he,  indeed  !  "  sitting  erect.  "  I  don't  think 
my  little  Letty  would  suit  him  at  all." 

"  You  will  allow,  Tom,  that  he  knows  best ;  a  man 
of  his  age  has  some  idea  of  the  sort  of  girl  he  adm  ires 
by  this  time  !  " 

"  Humph  !  "  he  grunted,  "  I  have  never  known  him 
admire  a  girl  yet — it's  always  been  the  married  women 
he  runs  after." 

"  That  run  after  him,  you  mean,"  she  corrected. 
"  Well,  I  think  he  has  made  up  his  mind  to  settle  at 
last." 

"  I  hope  to  goodness  he  hasn't  made  up  his  mind  to 
settle  on  my  niece.  For  one  thing,  he  is  twenty  years 
older  than  she  is — if  not  more — a  blase  fellow  who  has 
knocked  about  the  world  and  been  his  own  master  (and, 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  67 

by  all  accounts,  a  bad  one)  since  he  was  sixteen.  Why 
the  stories  about  him  and  Mrs.  Corbett — scandalous 
stories — are  common  property." 

"  He  is  a  very  good  sort — if  no  saint,"  declared  his 
wife.  "  I  know  you  have  a  prejudice  against  him — 
because  the  Lumleys  don't  like  him,  and  you  like 
the  Lumleys ;  but  you  cannot  deny  that  he  is 
popular  ?  " 

"  A  man  with  forty  thousand  a  year  is  bound  to  be 
that,"  growled  her  husband. 

"  He  is  extremely  liberal,  and  subscribes  to  every- 
thing," continued  Mrs.  Fenchurch.  "  I  believe  Letty 
would  be  the  most  fortunate  girl  in  England,  if  she  was 
Mrs.  Blagdon.  He  is  certainly  thinking  of  marrying — 
for  the  place  is  entailed,  and  if  anything  were  to  happen 
to  him,  every  acre  of  the  property  would  go  to  a 
cousin  in  New  Zealand,  whom  he  loathes." 

"  And  you  think  he  is  going  to  take  a  wife,  if  it  is 
only  to  spite  his  cousin,  eh,  Doodie  ?  " 

"  I  think,  my  dear  Tom,  that  you  are  in  one  of  your 
funny  tempers  this  morning — you  smoke  too  much,  or 
you  have  got  a  chill  on  your  liver,"  and  she  patted  him 
lightly  on  the  head.  "  Why,  you  ought  to  be  enchanted 
at  your  niece's  prospects  !  She  is  just  the  sort  of  little 
thing  that  will  take  to  wealth  and  luxury,  like  a  duck 
to  water." 

"  Since  you  go  to  the  poultry-yard  for  your  similes, 
it's  my  opinion,  that  you  are  counting  your  chickens 
before  they  are  hatched.  What  has  put  this  ridiculous 
idea  into  your  head  ?    Has  he  said  anything  ?  " 


68  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

"  No — ^not  in  so  many  words — but  he  is  coming  over 
here  to  lunch  on  Friday." 

"  To  lunch for  what  ?  "  he  demanded,  and  his 

tone  was  sharp  and  inhospitable. 

"  He  says,"  she  hesitated  for  a  moment,  "  he  says, 
he  has  heard  a  great  deal  of  our — chrysanthemums." 

"  Twenty  miles'  drive  to  look  at  half  a  dozen  pots 
of  chrysanthemums  !  Bah!"  and  Colonel  Fenchurch 
sprang  to  his  feet,  snatched  up  his  cap,  and  went  out 
of  the  room. 


V 


CHAPTER   VI 

FOR  one  whole  week  the  post-bag  carried  to  Mrs. 
Fen  a  sharp  disappointment,  instead  of  an  ex- 
pected letter.  In  the  course  of  certain  promenades 
and  tete-d-tetes  at  Bonham  Court,  Blagdon  had  accepted 
the  lady's  warm  invitation  to  come  and  see  them,  and 
promised  to  fix  his  own  day  ;  indeed  the  last  words  he 
uttered,  as  he  pressed  her  hand  in  a  significant  fare- 
well, were  : 

"  /  will  write." 

This  encouraging  pledge  had  maintained  certain 
buoyant  hopes,  but  now  these  hopes  began  to  sink, 
and  fears  to  rise. 

By  most  exasperating  ill-luck,  Mrs.  Fenchurch  was 
engaged  to  attend  a  function  in  London — the  wedding 
of  a  niece,  who  was  making  a  marriage  that  reflected 
credit  on  the  whole  connection.  She  had  forwarded  a 
handsome  gift  (one  of  her  bargains),  and  angled  for  an 
invitation  to  spend  a  week  with  a  relative  in  Portland 
Place,  in  order,  she  declared,  "  to  help  dearest  sister 
Cecilia  and  see  the  whole  '  thing  through.'  " 

Carefully  matured  plans,  laid  weeks  ahead,  were  on 
this  occasion  too  previous  ;  but  how  was  the  unhappy 
woman  to  know  that  by  her  absence  from  home  at  the 
critical  moment,  she  was  risking  the  prospects  of  an 

69 


70  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

alliance  that  would  throw  Cecilia's  paltry  triumph  into 
the  cold,  cold  shade.  The  baffled  chaperon  looked 
worn  and  worried  ;  her  condition  communicated  itself 
to  others.  She  complained  of  neuralgia — Mrs.  Fen- 
church's  neuralgia  was  an  ailment  to  be  feared — these 
were  uncomfortable  days  for  her  household  :  everything 
seemed  to  go  wrong:  servants,  dogs,  appointments, 
and  clocks. 

But  in  her  aunt's  anxieties  respecting  Hugo  Blagdon, 
Miss  Glyn  had  no  share  ;  indeed,  she  scarcely  cast  a 
thought  to  that  important  personage.  On  the  other 
hand,  it  must  be  frankly  admitted  that  her  mind  was 
too  frequently  occupied  by  Lancelot  Lumley. 

Although  the  school  at  Dresden  was  notably  strict 
et  Men  siirveille,  nevertheless  the  Teuton  atmosphere 
breathes  romance  and  sentiment,  and  a  certain  amount 
of  this  had  penetrated  through  the  secluded  walls  of 
Madam  Franck's  establishment ;  girls  whispered  to 
one  another  of  love's  young  dream,  yes,  and  of — lovers. 
Also,  in  the  vacation  spent  in  Dresden,  Letty  had  read 
not  a  few  selected  novels,  including  those  by  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  Mrs.  Gaskell,  and  Miss  Young.  As  for  her 
favourite  heroes,  she  was  divided  between  Sir  Guy 
Morville  and  Wilfred  of  Ivanhoe.  Since  she  had  made 
Mr.  Lumley 's  acquaintance,  Wilfred  the  Palmer  bore 
away  the  palm.  The  fresh  imagination  of  Sweet  Seven- 
teen discovered  a  remarkable  resemblance  between  the 
twelfth-century  crusader,  and  the  smart  young  officer 
of  the  present  day — both  had  grey  eyes,  and  crisp 
light  hair,  both  were  soldiers  and  bold  horsemen.    Be- 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  71 

sides  certain  attributes  shared  with  the  disinherited 
knight,  Lancelot  Lumley  danced  admirably,  had  an 
infectious  laugh,  and  a  delightful  personality,  that  set 
one  immediately  at  ease. 

As  she  compared  his  light,  active  figure  and  clean- 
cut,  tanned  face,  to  her  aunt's  beau-ideal,  Mr.  Blagdon, 
with  his  ponderous  form,  brick-coloured  countenance, 
and  heavily  scented  person,  the  young  lady  threw  up 
her  chin  with  a  gesture  of  scornful  disparagement. 
She  recalled  Lumley's  glance  of  profound  interest  and 
respectful  homage,  and  then  thought,  with  a  shudder, 
of  Blagdon's  insatiable  black  eyes — these  looked  as  if 
their  owner,  like  some  fabled  monster,  was  prepared 
to  devour  her  alive  !  Miss  Glyn  had  only  met  Mr. 
Lumley  on  five  occasions,  and  yet  she  remembered 
almost  every  sentence  they  had  exchanged — especially 
what  he  had  said — oh  fatal,  fatal  symptom  in  the  case 
of  a  maiden,  who  has  never  yet  encountered  an  object 
on  which  to  lavish  the  overflowing  tenderness  of  a 
warm  and  innocent  heart.  Secretly,  she  looked  for- 
ward to  their  next  meeting  ;  she  liked  to  hear  of  him 
(already  '  Him  '  with  a  capital).  His  name  casually 
mentioned,  caused  her  pulse  to  flutter  and  her  colour 
to  rise.  At  the  Rectory,  she  listened  thirstily  to  tales 
of  Lance's  boyish  scrapes,  and  Lance's  successes ; 
anecdotes  of  his  generosity,  unselfishness,  and  courage, 
were  poured  into  the  girl's  enchanted  ears — for  next 
to  Mabel  the  boy  was  a  favourite  topic, — and  to  talk 
long  and  copiously  to  a  sympathetic  companion,  was 
one  of  the  invalid's  few  remaining  pleasures.     Mean- 


72  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

while,  the  girl  mended  lace,  or  made  neat  covers  for 
books  in  the  parish  library,  and  absorbed  many  in- 
toxicating impressions. 


By  a  curious  coincidence,  the  day  and  hour  of 
Mr.  Lumley's  arrival  and  Mrs.  Fen's  departure  were 
simultaneous  ;  indeed,  they  actually  met  on  the  little 
platform  at  Tatton,  the  lady,  encumbered  with  a 
goodly  quantity  of  luggage,  queer-shaped  domestic 
parcels,  and  even  returned  empties.  All  these  were, 
however,  the  care  of  Tom,  and  she  hurried  off  to  take 
her  ticket ;  as  she  turned  away  from  the  window  she 
was  accosted  by,  of  all  people,  young  Lumley  !  How 
good-looking  he  was,  she  noted  fretfully,  and  what  on 
earth  was  bringing  him  to  Thornby  again  ?  Could  it 
be  Letty  ?  She  must  have  a  word  with  Tom  at  once ; 
he  was  on  no  account  to  invite  Lancelot  to  The  Holt, 
not  on  any  pretext  whatever.  Meanwhile,  she  extended 
a  stiff  hand,  and  said  : 

"  What,  back  already  !  How  do  you  manage  to  get 
all  this  leave  ?  It  looks  as  if  they  were  able  to  spare 
you  !  "  and  she  smiled  disagreeably. 

What  the  deuce  was  the  matter  with  Mrs.  Fen? 
Lumley  wondered  ;  and  they  had  always  been  such 
pals — why  had  she  her  knife  into  him  ?  (Mrs.  Fen 
confessed  to  a  weakness  for  young  men,  and  even 
allowed  herself  to  be  chaffed  about  '  her  boys.'  She 
liked  them  to  hail  her  at  Meets,  jog  beside  her  from 
cover  to  cover,  could  make  herself  agreeable  at  a  ball 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  73 

supper,  and  had  been  known  to  sit  out.  Young  fellows 
looked  on  Mrs.  "  Fen  "  as  a  good  sporting  sort,  with 
no  nonsense  about  her,  she  had  even  been  consulted 
on  delicate  affairs ;  and  more  than  once,  her  un- 
suspected finger  had  been  busy  in  other  people's  pies  ! 

"I've  only  got  a  few  days,"  he  began.  "  Hullo, 
here's  your  train  !  Why,  it's  gone  mad,  it's  punctual ! 
I'll  look  after  you  all  right — let  me  have  your  dressing- 
case  and  traps.  Come  on,"  and  before  the  unfortunate 
lady  could  protest  he  had  seized  upon  her  bag  and  was 
running  along  the  platform. 

"  Where's  Tom  ?  "  she  screamed  as  she  hurried  in 
his  wake.  "  I  particularly  want  to  speak  to  him — I 
must  see  him.  There  he  is  on  the  bridge  talking  to 
Major  Bassett !  Oh,  he  is  never  in  the  way,  when 
he  is  wanted." 

"  Here  you  are,"  cried  Lumley,  wrenching  open  a 
door,  and  bundling  her  wraps  and  parcels  into  an  empty 
carriage.    "  Got  it  all  to  yourself.    Great  luck  !  " 

He  was  really  too  officious :  Mrs.  Fen's  sharp  eye 
had  detected  the  Countess  of  Hopeland  in  another 
compartment,  and  they  could  have  travelled  up  to- 
gether so  sociably  and  comfortably. 

"  Hurry  up  !  Hurry  up  !  "  shouted  the  guard 
sharply ;  the  traffic  at  Tatton,  was  insignificant,  no 
need  to  delay. 

"  I  see  you  have  a  foot-warmer,"  said  the  irre- 
pressible Lumley.    "  Can  I  get  you  anything  ?  " 

"  If  you  could  get  hold  of  Tom,"  standing  up  as 
she  spoke  ;   "it's  most  important  !  " 


74  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Tom  by  this  time  was  approaching  at  the  double, 
but  the  train  was  moving  too, 

"  I  say,  can't  I  give  him  your  message  ?  "  asked 
Lumley  as  he  kept  pace  beside  the  carriage  door. 

"  No,  no,  no  !  "  snapped  the  lady  with  irritable  im- 
patience, and  it  seemed  to  the  good-natured  and  be- 
wildered young  man,  that  the  last  look  he  received 
from  Mrs.  Fen,  had  been  positively  malignant  and 
menacing  ! 


Colonel  Fenchurch  was  delighted  to  meet  Lancelot 
Lumley,  whom  he  had  known  from  boyhood  and  helped 
into  his  own  corps.  He  gave  him  a  lift  to  Thornby, 
enjoying  en  route  a  full  budget  of  regimental  news  ; 
and  when  he  deposited  his  passenger  and  port- 
manteau at  the  Rectory,  invited  him  to  The  Holt 
that  same  evening  to  take  pot  luck. 

It  was  a  memorable  occasion.  Miss  Glyn  in  white  and 
blushes,  occupied  her  aunt's  place — a  lovely  vice-reine. 
The  menu  was  excellent — Letty  had  taken  particular 
pains  with  the  flowers,  and  candle-shades,  as  well  as 
her  own  toilet, — though  her  fingers  shook  unaccount- 
ably as  she  did  her  hair,  and  endeavoured  to  fasten 
maddening  hooks, — ^that  attached  themselves  to  every- 
thing but  their  corresponding  eyes,  as  if  they  were 
alive  and  possessed  !  However,  the  result  of  the  toilet 
was  all  that  could  be  desired,  and  the  timid  hostess 
descended  to  the  drawing-room.  With  the  first  laugh 
her  tremors  vanished,  and  somehow  the  absence  of  the 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  75 

Lady  of  The  Holt,  contributed  to  the  ease  and  gaiety 
of  the  httle  gathering.  Conversation  flowed  uninter- 
ruptedly, laughter  was  frequent  and  hearty,  and 
the  rose-shaded  candles  illuminated  a  thoroughly 
congenial  trio.  The  Colonel  related  old  stories, — now 
undismayed  by  his  Dorothy's  frowns, — and  drank 
two  glasses  of  port ;  the  pug  was  made  happy  with 
a  bone,  Letty  put  her  elbows  on  the  table  and 
chattered  like  a  schoolgirl,  remained  whilst  the 
men  smoked,  and  subsequently  in  the  drawing-room 
delighted  them  with  her  songs.  Lancelot  Lumley 
hung  over  the  piano  (and  the  Colonel  dozed  by  the 
fire,  with  Sammy  the  pug,  also  dozing,  on  his  knee) 
absorbing  music  and  love — it  was  without  exception 
the  most  glorious  evening  he  had  ever  spent ! 

Before  the  guest  took  his  departure,  various  agree- 
able plans  were  laid  for  future  meetings. 

"  Mind,  you  must  drop  in  whenever  you  like.  Lance," 
said  his  host  as  he  accompanied  him  to  the  hall  door. 
"  You  know  your  way  here — come  up  to  lunch  to- 
morrow at  one  sharp,  and  we  will  all  go  skating  on 
Barnby  Mere.    I  hear  the  ice  is  first-rate." 

The  next  afternoon's  post  brought  the  Colonel  a 
letter  from  his  wife  ;  it  was  short,  urgent,  and  very 
much  to  the  point.  When  he  had  read  it,  he  tore  it  up 
thoughtfully  and  placed  it  in  the  fire  ;  only  to  Mrs. 
Hesketh,  when  she  dropped  in  to  tea,  did  he  divulge 
the  contents.  In  reply  to  her  question,  "  Heard  from 
Doodie  ?  "  he  answered  : 

"  No — er — yes — just  a  line — I  say,  Maudie,  it's  a 


76  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

bit  awkward — she  bars  young  Lumley,  and  I've  been 
asking  him  to  look  in  whenever  he  pleases.  Now  I'm 
not  to  let  him  put  his  nose  inside  the  door  !  " 

In  reply  to  the  lady's  elevated  brows,  he  added  : 

"  The  fact  of  the  matter  is,  Doodie's  afraid  the  boy 
might  take  a  fancy  to  Letty." 

"  And,  of  course,  no  subalterns  need  apply  !  I  see ; 
well,  I  believe  that  you  are  locking  the  door,  when 
the  steed  is  stolen." 

"  What,  you  don't  mean  that — it's  one  of  your 
jokes  ?  " 

"  No,  indeed,  I'm  in  deadly  earnest ;  but  you  must 
do  as  Doodie  wishes." 

"  He's  a  nice  young  fellow,  as  keen  as  mustard, 
and  straight  as  a  die  ;  and  I'm  fond  of  Lance." 

"  So  am  I,"  assented  Mrs.  Hesketh.  "  Wouldn't 
they  make  an  ideal  couple  ! — so  young  and  honest,  and 
good-looking — but  naturally  we  must  not  think  of  it. 
Where  are  they  now  ?  Together  ?  "  and  she  glanced 
at  her  companion  with  whimsical  dismay. 

"  Yes,  they  went  off  to  the  skating  after  lunch.  I 
intended  going  too,  but  I've  a  touch  of  gout." 

"  What,  all  the  way  to  Barnby  Mere — aloric  ?  If 
Doodie  knew,  she'd  have  fit  after  fit." 

"  No,  no  ;  I  believe  they  were  to  call  for  Denton. 
But  I  say,  Maudie,  I'm  rather  in  a  hole,  I've  asked  the 
fellow  to  shoot  to-morrow,  and  to  dine." 

"I'll  take  him  off  your  hands  for  dinner,"  she 
answered  with  short  decision,  "  the  shoot  can  stand 
over.    We  must  manage  somehow." 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  77 

As  Mrs.  Hesketh  walked  through  the  village  in 
the  frosty  January  night,  she  heard  two  voices  ap- 
proaching ;  and  presently  Letty  and  her  escort  came 
into  view. — They  had  deposited  the  Rector  at  home, 
and  were  en  route  to  The  Holt,  unaware  that  its  door 
was  now,  figuratively,  barred  against  this  undesirable 
Guest. 

Moved  by  a  sudden  impulse,  she  resolved  that  her 
own  house  should  stand  wide  for  him,  and  for  Letty. 
Yes,  in  spite  of  Doodie  and  Prudence  !  These  two 
young  people  should  have  just  one  glimpse  of  Paradise, 
before  the  dust  and  tumult  of  the  world  overtook  them. 

Maude  Hesketh  was  a  clever  woman,  and  it  was  mar- 
vellous how  she  contrived  to  arrange  meetings  without 
apparent  effort,  or  giving  cause  for  remark,  much  less 
gossip.  She  had  a  taste  for  psychology,  for  the  study 
of  character,  and  a  charming  romance  unfolded  under 
her  own  eyes  was  ten  times  more  absorbing  than  any 
novel.  She  watched  the  swift  and  silent  approaches 
of  spirit  to  spirit,  listened  to  the  hght  raillery  and 
random  talk,  that  disguised  much  greater  things, — 
which  so  far  remained  unspoken.  Letty  and  Lancelot 
were  unaware,  that  they  were  in  the  thrall  of  the  all- 
compelling  power,  which  insensibly  draws  youth  to 
youth.  But  their  hostess  noted  their  happy  faces,  their 
tireless  sociability,  their  frequent,  and  uncalled-for 
smiles. 

To  do  Mrs.  Hesketh  justice,  her  friends  were  not  alto- 
gether the  mere  victims  of  a  cynical  interest  ;  in  the 
core  of  a  withered  heart,  long-forgotten  emotions  and 


78  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

sympathies,  were  stirring.  In  the  days  of  her  exquisite 
youth,  Maude  Charlton,  too,  had  a  gallant,  handsome, 
penniless  lover  ;  but  when  love  had  extended  imploring 
arms  she  suffered  ambition  to  restrain  her,  and 
accepted  instead  of  a  heart's  devotion,  middle  age, 
position,  and  wealth.  He,  the  abandoned,  had  gone 
to  India  and  there  shortly  afterwards  died.  Often  now, 
in  the  barren  autumn  of  her  life,  did  her  thoughts 
turn  to  Lawrence  Ormond — her  heart  ached  and 
ached,  as  she  thought  with  wet  eyes,  of  his  neglected 
grave  in  some  sun -scorched  up-country  cemetery. 
Thirty  years  had  elapsed  since  three  volleys  had  been 
fired  over  that  shrunken  mound,  and  he  was  now  for- 
gotten by  all.  Mrs.  Hesketh  had  a  habit  of  whispering 
to  herself,  scraps  of  poetry,  lines  that  she  admired,  and 
that  dwelt  in  her  memory,  and  as  she  recalled  her 
young  dead  lover,  she  would  murmur  the  appropriate 
quotation  : 

"  Forget  not  Earth  thy  disappointed  ones. 
Forget  not  the  forgotten." 

Then  would  brush  away  a  tear  that  trickled  down  her 
cheek,  and  exclaim  : 

"  You  silly  old  woman  ;  your  mind  is  wandering — 
don't  drivel!  " 

Nevertheless,  the  spell  of  the  past  held  her  ;  and  her 
cynicism  was  but  skin  deep.  As  an  officer's  wife, 
knocking  about  the  world  with  Lawrence,  fighting  its 
battles  by  his  side,  making  the  best  of  things,  and 
seeing  life  in  its  wider  aspect,  she  might  have  been  a 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  79 

happy  woman — and  he  still  hving.  She  had  seen  a 
letter  from  an  army  surgeon,  in  which  the  writer  de- 
clared that  Ormond  had  a  splendid  constitution,  but 
made  no  fight.  He  seemed  to  have  lost  all  interest  in 
life,  and  to  be  glad  to  go  out  of  it,  and  therefore  fell  an 
easy  prey  to  the  pestilence  that  walketh  in  darkness, 
and  whose  name  is  Cholera. 

As  Maude  Hesketh  crouched  over  her  fire,  dreaming 
of  her  youth,  she  asked  herself  why  should  not  Lance 
and  Letty  benefit  by  her  experience,  and  have  their 
chance  ?  This  girl  had  no  ambition,  no  extravagant 
tastes.  Lancelot  was  clever  and  steady,  and  by  all 
accounts  bound  to  get  on.  If  he  only  had  his  com- 
pany, once  in  India,  with  a  little  help  they  could 
manage  to  scrape  along.  She  would  contribute  a 
canteen  of  plate,  all  the  house  linen,  and  a  cheque. 

And  what  about  Doodie  Fenchurch  ?  demanded  a 
sharp,  inward  voice,  Doodie,  whose  head  was  filled 
with  dazzling  plans.  Was  she  strong  enough  to  with- 
stand her  masterful  cousin  and  uphold  the  girl  for 
the  sake  of  sentimental  memories  and  the  ashes  of 
her  own  long-dead  romance  ?  Alas  !  to  this  question, 
her  mental  reply  was  a  prompt  and  unqualified  'No.' 

Her  conscience  now  took  Maude  Hesketh  in  hand. 
She  had  indulged  herself  unwarrantably,  she  had  en- 
joyed bringing  the  two  children  together  in  order  to 
contemplate  their  happiness  for  her  own  gratification, 
and  they  would  ultimately  be  called  upon  to  pay  for  her 
entertainment — ^because  she  was  a  coward. 

The  few  days'  leave  had  gone  like  a  flash,  and  the 


80  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

end  of  the  week  found  Mrs.  Fenchurch  at  home,  where, 
to  borrow  a  mihtary  expression,  '  all  were  present  and 
correct,'  although  Tom  was  a  little  gouty  and  Letty 
looked  pale — she  must  get  her  a  tonic.  Young  Lumley 
had  departed,  Mr.  Blagdon  had  not  yet  appeared — so 
far  the  coast  was  clear,  and  all  was  well  ! 

Perhaps  if  Mrs.  Fen  had  been  behind  the  scenes  she 
might  have  modified  her  opinion  ;  but  she  did  not 
know  of  those  delightful  skating  parties  on  Barnby 
Mere.  Letty  and  Lancelot  skated  admirably,  better 
than  any  other  couple ;  and  skimmed  round  together  at 
a  racing  pace,  with  the  frosty  air  stinging  their  faces, 
the  bright  red  sunset  giving  a  colour  to  the  cold,  wintry 
scene.  How  was  she  to  know  of  that  evening  at 
Oldcourt,  when  Letty  sang  Tosti's  *'  Good-bye,"  with 
thrilling  pathos,  and  Lumley,  sitting  in  the  shadow, 
had  listened  with  folded  arms,  and  a  face  of  rigid 
pallor  ?  How  could  she  dream  of  their  last  walk  with 
the  Rector  and  Mrs.  Hesketh,  when  they  two  lagged 
behind,  at  the  crooked  bridge  in  order  to  watch  the 
gorgeous  sunset,  and  Lumley  said  in  a  strange,  husky 
voice  : 

"  I'm  off  to-night — God  knows  when  we  shall  meet 
again — but  you  know,  Letty  ;  you  know " 

Letty 's  heart  leaped  at  the  sound  of  her  Christian 
name.  She  looked  away,  fixing  her  gaze  on  a  great 
clump  of  snow-bound  rushes,  and  awaited  the  end  of 
the  sentence  with  a  thumping  pulse.  He  was  about  to 
tell  her  what  she  longed  to  hear ;  but  Lumley  hesi- 
tated and  controlled  himself, — biting  back  words  that 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  81 

crowded  to  his  lips.  He  had  all  but  succumbed  to  a 
fierce  temptation  to  assure  this  little  girl  that  he  adored 
her. 

Then  came  the  voice  of  the  Rector  through  the  thin, 
frosty  air,  calling  in  a  high,  clerical  monotone  : 

"  Come  on,  come  on,  Lance ;  you  have  no  time  to 
spare  !  come  on — come  on." 

And  they  turned  to  obey  this  summons  without  a 
second's  hesitation,  for  though  no  word — no  word  of 
love — was  uttered,  the  silence  had  spoken  ;  the  long 
self-conscious  silence  between  these  two  young  people 
— and  silence  can  be  eloquent ! 


CHAPTER   VII 

THE  afternoon  after  her  return  from  London, 
energetic  Mrs.  Fen,  descended  on  the  Rectory, 
in  order,  she  declared,  "  to  tell  poor  dear  Amy  Denton 
all  her  news,"  but  in  reality  to  establish  a  plain  under- 
standing with  respect  to  young  Lumley.  If  he  were 
to  be  continually  running  to  and  fro  and  hanging  about 
Thornby,  he  might  put  foolish  ideas  into  Letty's  silly 
little  head.  She  therefore  determined  to  take  time  by 
the  forelock,  and  oust  him,  not  merely  from  her  own 
abode,  but  also  from  the  village  ! 

Pale  Mrs.  Denton,  bhssfully  unconscious  of  her  errand, 
welcomed  her  neighbour  with  her  usual  sunny  smiles. 

After  a  gorgeous  description  of  the  trousseau,  pre- 
sents, the  wedding  gown,  and  the  wedding  guests,  Mrs. 
Fen  suddenly  paused,  and  taking,  so  to  speak,  a  long 
breath,  resumed  in  her  most  trenchant  and  impressive 
manner  : 

"  And  now,  dearest  Amy,  I  have  something  very 
important  to  say  to  you ;  it's  about  your  nephew — 
and  my  niece." 

As  a  rule,  Letty  was  *  my  husband's  niece,'  but  now 
Mrs.  Fen  saw  the  bright  day  approaching  when  she 
could  ^claim  her  not  only  as  niece,  but  adopted 
daughter  ! 

82 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  83 

"  You  mean  Lancelot  and  Letty  ?  "  said  Mrs. 
Denton  in  a  constrained  voice. 

"  Yes  ;  a  stitch  in  time  saves  nine,  and  I  want  you, 
dearest  Amy,  to  grant  me  a  favour,  and  not  invite 
Lancelot  here  for  some  months.  When  idle  young 
people  are  together,  they  have  little  to  do  but  flirt, 
imagine  themselves  in  love,  and  get  into  mischief. 
They  are  so  tiresome,  and  often  bring  no  end  of  misery 
on  themselves  and  others." 

She  paused  for  a  moment,  but  Mrs.  Denton  merely 
nodded  her  head  in  feeble  assent. 

"  You  see,"  pursued  the  visitor,  "  Letty  is  quite 
remarkable  in  the  way  of  good  looks — ^her  face  is,  and 
must  be,  her  fortune.  We  hope  she  may  make  a  suit- 
able match — in  fact,  to  you.  Amy,  I  know  I  may  say 
in  confidence,  that  one  is  already  on  the  tapis." 

(Recently  the  frost  had  driven  Blagdon  to  London ; 
he  had  met  Mrs.  Fenchurch  in  Piccadilly  and  spoken 
to  her  for  a  moment — but  in  that  moment  he  enquired 
for  her  niece.) 

"  As  for  Lancelot,  he  is  on  the  threshold  of  what  will, 
no  doubt,  be  a  brilliant  career.  By  all  accounts  he  is 
so  clever,  and  well  thought  of  in  his  profession.  To  hurl 
himself  into  matrimony  and  misery — for  marriage  with- 
out money  is  misery — to  hamper  himself  with  a  wife — 

and  family — would "  and  her  tone  became  solemnly 

prophetic — "  be  his  ruin  !  " 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so,"  meekly  assented  his  aunt. 

"  You  may  be  sure  of  it,  Amy,"  urged  her  friend 
forcibly.    "  You  and  I  must  be  wise  for  these  young 


84  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

people,  and  before  matters  take  any  form,  let  us  keep 
them  apart,  for  Lancelot's  sake.  I  know  I  can  rely  on 
your  assistance.  They  are  so  ridiculously  young — 
barely  forty  years  between  them." 

"  That's  true,  they  are  young,"  admitted  the  in- 
valid. "  Too  young,  but  surely  they  could  wait  ?  I 
know  that  the  boy  is  the  soul  of  honour,  and  nothing 
has  been  said." 

"  I  should  hope  not  !  "  interrupted  the  ruler  of 
Thornby,  and  her  voice  was  sharp. 

"  But  I  beheve  he  is  deeply  in  love,  that  he  almost 
worships  Letty.  Such  an  attachment  keeps  a  young 
man  so  straight,  and  gives  him  a  wonderful  incentive 
to  strive  for  success.  Lancelot  has  done  splendidly  so 
far  ;  he  is  well  thought  of  in  his  regiment,  he  is  study- 
ing hard,  getting  up  Hindustani  and  Pushtoo " 

"  Hindustani — Pushtoo  !  "  broke  in  Mrs.  Fenchurch 
impatiently,  "  he  may  get  up  what  he  likes,  but  he  will 
never  get  my  niece.  She  is  the  last  sort  of  girl  to  follow 
the  baggage  wagon  !  Now,"  laying  a  firm,  detaining 
hand  on  the  invalid's  shrunken  arm,  "  please,  don't  be 
romantic  and  impulsive,  dearest  Amy — you  know  your 
Irish  heart  is  always  too  tender,  and  you  are  such  an 
easy  prey  to  beggars  and  impostors.  I  ask  you  to  give 
me  your  help  in  working  for  the  good  of  these  two 
foolish  children,  and  when  I  say  good,  I  honestly  mean 
it.  As  for  years  of  indefinite  waiting,  letter- writing, 
and  constancy,  I  set  my  face  against  that  absolutely. 
I've  known  engagements — particularly  where  the  man 
is  in  India — to  drag  on  for  years  and  years,  and  I  car 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  85 

tainly  would  not  undertake  to  give  Letty  a  home  for 
such  a  time,  especially  if  she  was  expecting  to  make 
a  marriage  of  which  I  disapproved — yes  "  (second 
thought),  "  and  her  uncle  too.  And  even  if  she  were 
engaged  to  Lancelot  for  years,  supposing  he  were  to 
die  ?  Such  things  do  happen.  Where  should  I  be, 
then,  with  a  disconsolate  old  maid  on  my  hands  ?  " 

"  Then  what  do  you  propose  to  do  ?  "  asked  a 
querulous  voice  from  the  sofa. 

'■  It  is  you,  dearest  Amy,  not  I,  who  will  move  in  the 
affair." 

"  Oh,  impossible — out  of  the  question,"  she  pro- 
tested with  waving  hands. 

"  Yes,  it  is  the  most  sensible  and  easiest  solution. 
Were  /  to  interfere,  it  would  add  fuel  to  the  flame — if 
flame  there  be — and  Letty  is  so  devoted  to  you  that 
she  will  listen  to  whatever  you  say,  with  patience  and 
attention.  You  can  tell  her  that  your  nephew's  regi- 
ment is  next  on  the  Roster  for  foreign  service,  and  will 
not  return  for  years  and  years." 

"  But  he  is  only  going  to  Gibraltar  and  Egypt," 
objected  Mrs,  Denton, 

"  And  India,"  amended  the  visitor  in  her  most 
trenchant  and  matter-of-fact  manner.  "  Assure  her 
that  his  prospects  are  excellent,  but  that  marriage 
would  destroy  them  ;  that  he  has  no  money,  and  no 
thought  of  taking  a  wife " 

"I'm  afraid  that  last  would  not  be  true." 

"  Well,  please  say  whatever  you  think  best,"  said 
Mrs.  Fen  irritably  ;  "  but  do  not  leave  one  little  chink 


86  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

of  hope.  Believe  me  it  will  be  the  truest  kindness  ! 
When  you  reflect  over  what  I  have  said,  I  know  you 
will  see  that  I  am  right." 

"  Yes,  Dorothy,"  assented  Mrs.  Denton  ;  "  I  am 
aware  that  you  have  more  practical  common  sense 
than  all  the  rest  of  us  put  together — but — there  is 
something  beside  common  sense,  isn't  there  ? — love — 
constancy  ?  " 

"  Oh,  my  dearest  friend,  the  real  name  for  your  some- 
thing is  '  Nonsense.'  "  Then,  standing  up  and  arrang- 
ing her  boa,  she  added  impressively,  "  Surely,  Amy, 
you  have  your  boy's  interest  at  heart,  and  is  it  to  his 
interest,  that  he  should  marry  a  girl  who  has  not  a 
penny  piece,  and  comes  of  a  notoriously  consumptive 
family  ?  " 

She  paused  to  allow  this  shaft  to  go  home,  and 
then  continued  : 

"I'll  send  Letty  up  to-morrow  afternoon  with  that 
new  book  on  gardening,  and  you  might  take  the  op- 
portunity of  having  a  nice  little  talk  with  her.  Now 
good-bye,  dearest  friend,"  and  she  stooped  over  the 
couch,  kissed  the  lady  with  tender  affection,  and  so 
departed.     That  was  done  ! 

For  hours  the  same  night  Mrs.  Denton  lay  awake 
miserable  and  restless,  wondering  what  she  could  say 
to  Letty,  and  how  she  was  to  say  it ;  for  it  is  a  delicate 
task  to  tell  a  girl  that  she  must  put  away  all  thoughts 
of  your  own  nephew  ;  and  oh,  how  the  poor  cat's-paw 
hated  and  dreaded  the  ordeal.  And  yet  it  must  be 
faced — it  would  be,  as  Dorothy  the  wise  had  pointed 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  87 

out,  a  fatal  mistake  for  Lancelot  to  marry  before  he 
got  his  company  ;  and  even  then  a  girl  without  a  penny 
would  hamper  his  future.  She  must  put  sentiment 
from  her,  and  think  of  Lancelot's  career. 

Letty  duly  arrived  with  the  book  on  gardens, 
and  remained  to  make  tea.  After  a  little  desultory 
talk  about  the  bulbs,  her  terrified  hostess  broke  the 
ice. 

"  I  had  a  few  lines  from  Lancelot  this  morning — he 
is  back  at  Aldershot." 

At  his  name  the  girl  coloured  up,  and  looked 
expectant. 

"  I  don't  think  we  shall  see  him  here  for  a  long  time." 

"  No." 

"  From  Gibraltar  his  regiment  goes  on  to  Egypt, 
and  India." 

"  So  he  told  me,"  rejoined  Letty  with  disconcerting 
promptness.  "  How  I  envy  them  ;  I  would  give  any- 
thing to  go  to  India,  you  know,  I  was  born  there  !  " 

"  Yes  ;  it's  a  wonderfully  interesting  country.  My 
brother-in-law  was  in  the  Punjaub  for  years.  I  hope 
Lance  will  get  some  staff  appointment ;  he  is  working 
hard,  and  in  some  ways  foreign  service  has  its  advan- 
tages— at  home,  there  are  so  many  distractions — 
and  temptations." 

"  Temptations  !  "  echoed  Letty  with  a  blank  face. 

,  "  Yes,  my  dear,  in  the  shape  of  pretty  faces,  and  the 

danger  of  falling  in  love.    But  Lancelot  is  poor ;  he  has 

only  himself  to  rely  on — he  cannot  afford  to  think  of 

love — much  less  marriage.    You  see  he  is  but  twenty- 


88  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

three,  and  a  subaltern  ;  so  it  is  best  for  him,  as  I  say, 
to  go  to  India — and  " — suddenly  dropping  her  voice — 
"foyget." 

To  this  long  speech  there  was  no  reply ;  the  slender 
figure  sitting  with  her  back  to  the  window  never 
moved. 

Stirred  by  some  rash  impulse  the  kind  woman  added  : 

"  I  believe  he  was  growing  fond  of  you,  Letty." 
The  girl  caught  her  breath.  "  But  it  would  never, 
never  do,  and  the  less  he  sees  and  thinks  of  you 
the  better.  Poor  fellow  !  "  and  she  heaved  a  long 
sigh. 

And  what  of  poor  Letty  ? 

She  struggled  desperately  to  restrain  her  tears,  to 
swallow  an  enormous  lump  in  her  throat,  and  to  steady 
and  clench  her  trembling  hands  ;  fortunately  the  light 
was  growing  dim  and  she  wore  a  shady  hat.  At  last 
she  said  in  a  clear,  rather  sharp  key  : 

"  Of  course,  Mrs.  Denton,  you  know  best ;  "  and  now 
came  a  great  big  lie  :  "  Mr.  Lumley  and  I  were  only 
friends — he  never  thought  of  me  in — in — the  way  you 
mean." 

"  I'm  truly  thankful  to  hear  you  say  so,  my  dear," 
replied  the  lady,  who  was  intensely  relieved.  "  Now, 
will  you  give  me  another  cup  of  tea,  and  let  us  talk  of 
something  else  ?  " 

It  was  not  easy  for  Letty 's  shaking  hands  to  pour  out 
tea,  and  even  more  difficult  to  '  talk  of '  something 
else.  The  fragile  invalid  had  just  dealt  her  a  shattering 
blow,  and  all  the  exquisite  whisperings  of  her  young 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  89 

hopes  were  crushed  and  silenced.  Pride,  the  legacy 
of  generations,  now  came  to  her  assistance,  and  she 
discoursed  of  trifling  village  matters  and  the  Ridge- 
field  bazaar  with  true  Spartan  fortitude,  whilst  all  the 
time  a  cruel,  sharp-toothed  fox,  was  rending  her  tender 
heart. 

When  at  last  she  rose  to  go,  Mrs.  Denton  drew  her 
down  and  embraced  her  with  unusual  warmth  and 
significance.  It  was  such  a  comfort  that  the  dear 
child  had  taken  her  talk  in  good  part  ;  and  that  night 
to  her  prayers  she  added  a  few  words  of  devout  thank- 
fulness, and  asked  for  a  special  blessing  on  Letty  Glyn. 
"The  girl  was  too  young  to  realise  or  reciprocate 
Lancelot's  attachment  ;  she  was  just  a  child,  a 
dear,  dear  child,"  and  with  this  consoling  reflection, 
Mrs.  Denton  closed  her  eyes,  and  slept  the  sleep  of 
the  just,  and  the  justified. 

But  Letty,  as  she  walked  up  the  village  that  star-lit 
January  evening,  felt  as  if  a  door  had  been  closed  upon 
her,  and  that  darkness  had  descended  on  the  world. 


CHAPTER    VIII 

ALTHOUGH  she  searchingly  scrutinised  her  niece's 
appearance,  Mrs.  Fenchurch  failed  to  discover 
any  trace  of  actual  misery  in  face  or  attitude.  Certainly 
Letty  was  pale  ;  but  the  weather  was  exceptionally 
trying,  and  Mrs.  Denton,  who  had  been  as  good  as  her 
word,  assured  her  that  the  child  had  taken  her  '  little 
talk  '  in  the  best  part,  and  behaved  beautifully ! 

Yet  Letty,  for  all  her  outward  composure,  was  abso- 
lutely wretched  ;  her  little  glimpse  into  Paradise  had 
been  speedily  eclipsed.  So  she  must  never  think  of 
Lancelot  Lumley,  nor  he  of  her,  and  she  now  seemed 
to  sit  in  a  prison  behind  bars,  and  in  outer  darkness. 
Her  only  comforts  were  her  uncle,  with  his  cheery  nature 
and  his  warm  affection,  and  Sam  the  pug.  Lancelot 
had  liked  Sam,  and  said  he  was  '  a  good  sort,'  and 
up  in  her  own  room  she  confided  many  sorrows  to  Sam, 
and  laid  her  wet  cheek  against  his  velvet  jowl,  and 
dropped  tears  over  his  fawn  head,  whilst  he  snorted, 
goggled,  and  sympathised  dog-fashion.  Among  her 
little  circle,  it  was  surprising  how  reserved  and  secretive 
Letty  could  be  ;  the  only  one  who  divined  her  trouble, 
was  eagle-eyed  Mrs.  Hesketh — who  understood  and 
marvelled  at  the  little  girl's  pride  and  fortitude.  The 
lady  also   experienced   some   sharp   twinges   from    a 

90 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  91 

rather  drowsy  conscience.  She  had  been  wrong  to 
bring  the  young  people  together,  and  now,  as  she 
half  feared,  they  were  paying.  As  a  sop  to  her 
remorse,  she  presented  Letty  with  a  superb  sable 
boa ;  but  even  this  had  no  effect — positively  it 
might  as  well  have  been  rabbit  skin !  for  all  the 
girl  seemed  to  care. 

One  evening  Letty  was  returning  from  Oldcourt. 
Something  its  mistress  had  said,  a  little  word  and  a 
sympathetic  look,  had  touched  her.  She  refrained 
herself  until  she  was  alone  in  the  dusk,  and  then  gave 
way  to  an  outburst  of  tears — tears  usually  reserved 
for  the  night,  and  her  own  apartment.  But  now  she 
wept  openly  and  without  restraint. 

Fortunately  there  was  no  one  to  be  seen,  as  she 
walked  on  past  The  Holt  to  the  Crooked  Bridge, 
and  there  sat  down  on  the  parapet,  and  had  her  cry 
out.  Here  on  this  very  bridge  he  had  called  her 
'  Letty,'  here  on  the  same  spot,  she  must  make  up  her 
mind  to  thrust  him  out  of  her  heart,  and  strangle 
her  folly.  Oh,  it  was  folly ;  cruel,  painful,  aching 
folly  !  After  a  while  she  dried  her  eyes  and  proceeded 
to  make  her  way  slowly  homewards — earnestly  hoping 
that  she  might  steal  up  to  her  own  room  unobserved ; 
but  Fortune,  as  usual,  failed  to  befriend  her  ! 

As  she  crept  past  the  drawing-room  door  it  stood 
half  open,  and  she  caught  a  glimpse  of  her  aunt  sitting 
at  the  fire  in  a  ruminative  attitude. 

"Is  that  you,  Letty?"  she  called  out.  "What 
makes  you  so  late  ?     Come  here,  my  dear  !  " 


92  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Aunt  Dorothy  was  apparently  in  a  good-liumuur — 
possibly  the  Duchess  had  called.  Letty  hastily  glanced 
into  the  hall  glass,  straightened  her  hat,  and  rubbed 
her  swollen  eyes. 

When  she  presented  herself,  Mrs.  Fenchurch  turned 
half  round  in  her  chair,  and  stared  as  if  she  could  not 
believe  her  senses. 

"  Good  God  !  "  she  exclaimed  at  last — in  moments  of 
violent  excitement  she  borrowed  the  forcible  language 
of  her  hard-riding  brothers — "  Where  have  you  been  ? 
and  what  has  happened  ?  " 

"  Happened  ?  "  repeated  the  girl  in  a  dull  voice. 
"  Nothing." 

"  Come,  there's  no  use  in  telling  me  a  lie — your  eyes 
look  as  if  they  were  set  in  red  flannel,  and  your  face  is 
in  dirty  streaks  !  " 

"  I — I — I'm  afraid  I'm  getting  a  bad  cold  in  my 
head.  Aunt  Dorothy." 

"  How  sickening  !  Friday — and  this  is  Wednesday. 
Well,  you  must  go  to  bed  at  once,  and  take  a  large 
dose  of  ammoniated  quinine.  As  for  your  dinner,  it 
shall  be  gruel." 

"  But   really.    Aunt    Dorothy "   protested    the 

miserable  victim. 

"  But  really,  Letty,  you  are  a  hideous  object,"  inter- 
rupted Mrs.  Fenchurch  in  her  most  inflexible  manner. 
"  Your  nose  is  swelled  to  the  size  of  a  turnip.  I've 
just  had  a  note  from  Mr.  Blagdon,"  touching  an  en- 
velope in  her  lap.  "  He  is  back  at  Ridgefield,  now  the 
thaw  has  come,  and  invites  himself  to  lunch  here  on 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  93 

Friday,  so  I've  barely  two  days  to  patch  you  up  and 
make  you  fit  to  be  seen.  Now,  my  dear  child,  go  off 
at  once  and  bundle  into  bed  as  quickly  as  you  can  ; 
I'll  bring  you  the  gruel  with  lots  of  sulphur  in  it, 
within  half  an  hour." 


CHAPTER    IX 

FRIDAY  morning  was  a  busy  bustling  time  at 
The  Holt,  where  elaborate  preparations  were 
on  foot  for  the  reception  of  an  important  guest. 

Mrs,  Fenchurch  prided  herself  on  her  housekeeping, 
and  boasted  that  she  was  always  prepared  for  any 
emergency  or  visitor — were  it  the  King !  Nevertheless 
she  now  brought  out  the  best  dessert  and  coffee  sets, 
the  precious  old  family  silver,  and  spent  half  an  hour 
conferring  with  the  cook.  She  had  set  Letty  to  arrange 
flowers,  put  on  fresh  chintz  covers,  and  feed  and 
incarcerate  the  dogs.  Having  issued  orders  to  her 
husband  with  respect  to  the  cellar,  warned  the  stable- 
yard  with  regard  to  horses,  she  changed  into  her 
Sunday  gown  and  best  rings,  saw  that  Letty  wore  the 
new  green  cloth — and  behold  all  was  in  readiness. 

Half-past  one  o'clock — two — half-past  two — and  yet 
Mr.  Blagdon  never  appeared.  Mrs.  Fenchurch  had 
ceased  to  cast  surreptitious  glances  at  the  window,  and 
her  husband's  patience  was  exhausted.  Without  a 
word  to  his  wife  he  rose  and  boldly  dragged  at  the  bell, 
and  to  the  answering  servant  uttered  one  stentorian 
word,  "  Lunch  !  " 

"  I'm  hanged  if  I'm  going  to  wait  for  that  fellow  any 
longer,"  he  announced  with  the  courage  of  a  hungry 

94 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  95 

man.  "  Just  like  Blagdon — inviting  himself  to  honour 
us — you  and  Letty  work  like  blacks,  and  he  never 
turns  up  after  all  !  " 

"  That  will  do,  dear — that  will  do — ^don't  get  ex- 
cited," said  his  wife,  patting  his  arm.  She  was  secretly 
furious  with  Blagdon.  "  He  has  made  some  mistake  ; 
however,  there  is  capital  mulligatawny,  and  now  we 
will  go  and  enjoy  it  ourselves." 

The  housekeeper's  boast  was  well  founded  ;  her 
husband  and  niece  thoroughly  appreciated  the  good 
things  intended  for  a  non-arrival — indeed,  Letty's 
appetite  was  whetted  by  a  sense  of  intense  relief,  but 
Mrs.  Fen  scarcely  touched  a  morsel,  being  herself  de- 
voured by  cruel  misgivings. 

The  following  afternoon  as  they  sat  at  table,  a  smart 
yellow-wheeled  Stanhope  dashed  up  to  the  door  with 
much  crunching  and  spattering  of  gravel.  It  was 
driven  by  the  belated  Blagdon  ! 

Colonel  Fenchurch  with  a  muttered  oath,  cast  his 
serviette  on  the  floor,  and  hurried  into  the  hall  to  wel- 
come the  unexpected  guest.  Meanwhile,  Mrs.  Fen- 
church rang  the  bell  distractedly,  gave  orders  for  the 
ham  (luckily  uncut),  grapes.  Burgundy,  and  to  make 
coffee  at  once  ;  then,  turning  to  Letty,  she  surveyed 
her  with  dismay. 

"  And  you  in  your  old  school  frock  !  Oh,  it's  simply 
maddening,  and  I  believe  the  drawing-room  fire  is  out. 
Here,  get  up  quickly,  and  sit  at  this  side  with  your 
back  to  the  light,  and  perhaps  your  old  serge  won't 
show." 


96  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Blagdon  now  entered,  suave  and  well  groomed,  full 
of  apologies  and  easy  talk.  To  himself  he  remarked, 
that  Fenchurch  was  a  stiff-necked  ceremonious  old 
beggar,  but  he  knew  that  Mrs.  Fen  was  his  friend  ! 
He  had  proposed  himself  as  a  visitor,  partly  to  discover 
what  sort  of  people  the  Fenchurchs  were  when  at  home, 
and  also  to  see  how  the  land  lay,  and  if  the  girl  was 
really  as  pretty  as  his  memory  had  painted. 

The  lunch,  although  shorn  of  yesterday's  splendour, 
proved  excellent ;  the  wine  first-class,  the  appointments, 
furniture,  and  old  portraits,  intimated  that  the  Fen- 
church family  had  handsome  ancestors  of  taste  and 
fortune.  The  topics  discussed  were  chiefly  hunting, 
the  local  pack  and  followers,  other  packs,  and  Mr. 
Blagdon,  a  hard  rider  (who,  when  he  could  not  get  over 
a  country,  went  through  it),  gave  vivid  descriptions  of 
runs  with  the  Pytchley,  and  the  Quorn. 

After  cigars  and  coffee  the  guest  was  conducted  with 
much  pomp  and  ceremony  to  inspect  the  chrysan- 
themums. Unfortunately  the  celebrated  Holt  gardens 
were  now  looking  their  worst ;  these  were  lovely  in 
spring  and  summer,  but  at  present,  all  the  blooms 
were  in  the  greenhouses,  where,  although  not  specially 
remarkable,  the  Japanese  specimens  made  a  respect- 
able show.  Personally  Blagdon  knew  as  little  of  a 
chrysanthemum  as  he  did  of  a  cauliflower — ^but  he 
assumed  a  knowledge  he  did  not  possess  ;  in  his  own 
bluff  fashion  he  made  himself  agreeable  to  his  hostess, 
and  she  (an  able  chaperon)  arranged  that  he  and  Letty 
should  have  a  few  moments  in  the  conservatory  alone, 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  97 

whilst  she  '  ran  '  to  give  an  important  message  to  the 
head-gardener. 

Alas,  of  these  precious  moments  the  great  parti 
failed  to  avail  himself.  It  was  a  bitterly  cold,  raw 
day,  Letty  had  been  all  the  morning  indoors  assisting 
to  wash  the  china  (and  her  aunt  had  been  unusually 
snappy  and  unreasonable),  the  walk  across  the  lawn 
had  given  her  beautiful  nose  a  tinge  of  pink,  the  girl's 
gown  was  a  shapeless,  ill-made  blue  serge  ;  her  shoes 
were  worn  white  at  the  toes,  and  she  hadn't  a  word  to 
throw  to  a  dog  !  The  aunt  did  all  the  talking.  If 
Hugo  Blagdon  had  cherished  any  intention  of  taking 
the  irrevocable  step,  this  intention  now  died  the  death. 
He  was  sensitive  and  easily  influenced  by  his  environ- 
ment, and  the  impression  made  on  him  by  Miss  Glyn  at 
home,  was  distinctly  the  reverse  of  that  made  by  Miss 
Glyn  abroad.  There,  she  was  a  well-dressed  radiant 
beauty  ;  here,  a  poor,  shabby  Cinderella,  with  timid 
eyes,  and  cold,  red  hands. 

After  a  depressing  round  of  the  damp,  wintry 
gardens,  and  a  brief  stay  in  the  charming  drawing- 
room,  full  of  old  cabinets,  pastel  portraits,  Chippendale 
furniture,  and  other  treasures,  Mr.  Blagdon  offered  a 
few  vague  and  agreeable  remarks,  and  begged  leave  to 
order  his  carriage. 

When  the  bay  steppers  came  prancing  to  the  hall 
door,  the  visitor  made  a  genial  and  general  farewell, 
and  so  drove  away.  As  the  last  rumble  of  his  wheels 
was  heard  in  the  distance  Mrs.  Fenchurch  turned  and 
looked  searchingly  at  Letty,  as  if  she  wished  to  ask 


98  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

her  something.  She  fidgeted  about  the  drawing-room, 
dusting  Httle  things  with  her  handkerchief,  taking  up 
and  laying  down  books ;  but  before  she  could  put  her 
questions  into  words,  her  terrified  niece  had  effected 
her  escape.  Mrs.  Fen  was  well  aware,  that  Letty  had 
her  reserves,  and  for  the  remainder  of  the  afternoon 
she  sat  alone  over  the  fire,  with  a  book  in  her  lap, 
but  instead  of  reading,  her  eyes  were  fixed  upon 
the  coals,  her  active  mind  was  elsewhere  ;  she  was 
lost  in  speculations.    Had  he  said  anything — or  not  ? 

If  her  niece  Letty  were  to  marry  the  great  catch — 
despair  of  many  mothers — how  she  would  score  ! 
Already  she  was  anticipating  her  triumphs.  The  dining- 
room  would  seat  seventy  with  a  squeeze  ;  she  would  get 
the  cake  at  Buzzards'  ;  cards  of  invitation  at  the 
stores  ;  and  borrow  a  veil  from  Cecilia. 

A  few  days  later,  in  glancing  over  The  Morning  Post, 
she  came  upon  this  paragraph  : 

"  Mr.  H.  Blagdon  and  party  arrived  at  the  Hotel  de 
Paris,  Monte  Carlo,  on  the  7th  inst.,  for  the  season." 

Alas,  alas,  alas  !  A  castle  in  the  air  had  toppled 
down,  and  great  was  the  fall  thereof ! 

Mrs.  Fenchurch's  first  sensation  was  insensate  fury 
with  the  girl ;  her  second,  a  devout  thankfulness  that 
beyond  her  own  household — that  is  to  say,  her  hus- 
band and  Cousin  Maude— she  had  not  trumpeted  forth 
her  hopes — since  they  had  come  to  nothing. 

Her  manner  to  her  niece  now  underwent  an  abrupt 
change  ;  the  wind  instead  of  blowing  from  the  south 
had  set  steadily  into  the  east,  and  there  remained. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  99 

Fires  in  Letty's  bedroom  and  other  small  indulgences 
came  to  an  end,  and  this  particular  month  of  February 
was,  for  several  reasons,  the  most  miserable  the  girl 
had  ever  known.  Nothing  that  she  did,  or  said,  or 
wore,  seemed  to  please  Aunt  Dorothy,  and  one  day, 
after  an  undeserved  scolding,  the  poor  worm  turned  at 
last  and  said  : 

"  I  know.  Aunt  Dorothy,  that  I  am  one  too  many 
here." 

"  How  dare  you  say  such  a  thing,  you  impertinent 
minx !  "  stormed  her  relative. 

"  But  it  is  the  truth,"  argued  Letty,  plucking  up 
some  courage.  "  I  am  not  happy,  and  you  are  not 
happy,  and  we  really  cannot  go  on  in  this  way.  I 
should  like  to  return  to  Dresden  ;  they  will  find  me  a 
place  in  the  school  as  music  teacher." 

"  I  never  heard  such  insolence  and  nonsense  !  "  cried 
Mrs.  Fenchurch,  her  face  red  with  temper.  "  Do  you 
suppose  your  uncle  would  allow  his  niece  to  go  out 
as  a  governess — earn  her  bread — and  have  everyone 
talking  ?  " 

"  Well,  many  girls  who  are  as  good,  or  probably  far 
better  than  I  am,  do  it,"  declared  Letty,  controlling 
her  tears  with  difficulty ;  "  and  my  master  said 
that,  with  practice,  I  would  make  a  professional 
singer." 

"  Worse  and  worse.  Why,  you  will  be  clamouring 
to  go  upon  the  stage  next  !  Be  so  good  as  to  under- 
stand, that  you  remain  here,  and  do  exactly  as  /  wish, 
until  you  are  one-and-twenty.  Of  course,  someone  may 


100  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

marry  you,  but  penniless  girls  haven't  much  chance  of 
that  in  these  times." 

Mrs.  Fenchurch  on  every  other  subject  was  per- 
fectly sane  and  reasonable  ;  the  exception  was  her 
husband's  niece.  She  was  pretty,  she  was  young,  she 
was  de  trop,  and  her  aunt  sincerely  hated  her.  Un- 
doubtedly the  unhappy  young  woman  had  got  upon 
her  nerves — the  bitter  disappointment  after  such  ex- 
alted hopes,  worked  in  her  mind  like  a  deadly  poison. 
It  was  true  that  Letty  had  made  an  unexpected  sensa- 
tion at  the  ball,  and  at  the  Bonhams'  dance,  but  so  far 
her  triumph  had  borne  no  fruit.  The  weather  had  been 
dreadful,  going  about  the  country  was  out  of  the 
question,  the  roads  were  impassable  with  rain  or 
snow,  so  Mrs.  Fenchurch  had  been  thrown  back  upon 
herself — there  was  no  hunting,  no  gardening ;  Mothers' 
Meetings  and  Village  Choral  Society  failed  to  content 
her,  and  her  sole  outlet  was  Cousin  Maude.  To  Oldcourt 
she  carried  her  grievances,  but  Cousin  Maude  refused 
to  see  eye  to  eye  with  her,  and  generally  took  the  part 
of  Letty.  If  the  girl  was  forgetful,  if  she  had  given  a 
short  answer,  if  she  had  slammed  a  door,  after  all,  she 
was  young  ;  her  life  was  not  very  exciting — and  who 
is  perfect  ? 

As  for  Letty  herself,  maddened  by  gibes,  reproaches, 
and  a  lacerating  tongue,  at  night  she  would  wander 
round  her  room  like  a  prisoner,  wondering  how  she 
was  to  escape,  wondering  who  could  help  her.  Cousin 
Maude  was  her  friend,  but  powerless ;  intercourse 
with  Oldcourt  was  now  strictly  curtailed.    Uncle  Tom 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  101 

was  attached  to  her,  but  entirely  dominated  by  his 
wife. 

Colonel  Fenchurch  had  not  been  insensible  to  the 
suppressed  antagonism  and  strained  relations  between 
aunt  and  niece  ;  inwardly  and  with  all  his  sore  heart, 
he  sided  with  Letty ;  but  though  physically  bold  as  a 
lion,  the  little  man  lacked  moral  courage  ;  he  could 
face  the  biggest  fence  without  flinching,  but  he  dared 
not  face  Doodie  and  stand  between  her  and  her 
unreasonable  treatment  of  his  sister's  orphan  ;  the 
situation  filled  him  with  secret  bitterness  and  self- 
contempt.  Hitherto,  he  had  been  absolutely  content 
with  his  comfortable,  well-ordered  home,  his  well- 
bred  hunters,  and  his  masterful  invaluable  Doodie, 
till  the  girl  had  come  to  make  a  third  at  The  Holt  ; 
and  now  in  his  eyes,  his  watchful  consort  frequently 
read  questions,  protests,  and  reproach. 

And  all  on  account  of  this  detestable  interloper ! 

In  spite  of  his  breezy,  jaunty  manner,  it  was  no  secret 
in  the  house  or  village,  that  the  Colonel  had  a  fine  grey 
mare  in  his  stable,  and  it  was  whispered  that  lately 
there  had  been  rows ;  loud  talking  and  angry  voices 
overheard  in  the  drawing-room  long  after  Miss  Glyn 
had  gone  to  bed — but  vain  was  the  effort  to  dislodge 
the  yoke  of  years  ! 

The  east  wind  had  been  particularly  trying  to  Mrs. 
Fenchurch's  neuralgia,  she  had  received  a  disappoint- 
ing post,  and  carried  away  by  this  combination  of 
circumstances,  she  vented  her  feelings  on  Letty,  who 
had  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  upset  a  bottle  of  ink. 


102  TTIK   SKlM»KNr\S  Tocyrii 

"Oil,  wli.'il  :i  mess!  my  f^'ood  cover  ruined!  "  she 
cried.  "  You  never  can  do  anytliing  right  or  like  other 
people.  If  only  someone  would  marry  you,  and  take 
you  out  of  my  lionse  and  oiil  of  my  si/^^lil,  I'd  give  a 
thousand  i)ounds  !  " 

Pacing  up  and  down  her  room  that  same  afternoon, 
her  thoughts  darting  in  all  directions  like  some  frantic 
sorely  pressed  fugitive,  Letty  came  to  a  momentous 
decision.  Escape  for  her  life  she  must,  and  somehow  ! 
She  had  no  money,  no  home  to  receive  her  ;  there  was 
but  one  alternative,  and  as  she  stood  in  llie  window 
looking  out  on  the  bleak  prospect,  she  vowed  to  herself 
that  she  would  marry  the  very  first  man  who  asked 
her — yes,  she  would.  Having  made  this  desperate 
resolution,  slie  broke  down,  burst  into  tears,  and  ran 
and  binied  her  face  in  her  pillow,  in  case  her  next- 
door  neighbour  (a  housemaid)  mighl  overhear  her 
too  audible,  and  convulsive  sobs. 

Shortly  after  this  scene,  the  unfortunate  girl '  brought 
home,'  as  Mrs.  T'enchnrch  expressed  it,  influenza  from 
a  cotlage  in  the  village,  and  was  hors  dc  combat  for 
three  weeks — entailing  extra  trouble  to  the  servants, 
a  visit  from  the  local  doctor,  and  a  chemist's  bill. 

Tlien  one  afternoon  towards  the  end  of  March,  Mrs, 
I'enchurch  herself  climbed  up  to  visit  the  patient  ;  her 
])resence  always  made  the  girl's  heart  Ihitter — beyond 
words  to  (;xpress  she  dreaded  being  alone  with  Aunt 
J)(»i()lliy  ;  bnt  on  this  (Kxasion  Aunt  Doiotliy  looked 
almost  agreeable,  and  was  cairyijig  iji  her  hand  [i 
box  which   was  addressed  to   *  Miss  Glyn,  The  lUAi, 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  103 

Thornby,'  and  had  been  despatched  from  the  south  of 
France. 

"  This  has  just  come  for  you,  Letty,  and  I  have 
brought  it  up  myself,"  said  Mrs.  Fenchurch  breath- 
lessly. "  Here  are  a  pair  of  scissors — now  let  us  see 
what  is  inside." 

To  Letty's  amazement  the  box  contained  a  quantity 
of  exquisite  exotic  flowers  despatched  by  a  well-known 
florist  in  Monte  Carlo.  On  the  top  of  these,  lay  a  card 
on  which  was  inscribed,  "  From  H.  Blagdon,  with  all 
good  wishes." 

And  once  more,  hope  whispered  a  flattering  tale  to 
the  matchmaker.  Was  she  to  have  her  own  way  with 
the  world,  after  all  ? 

"  Oh,  they  are  from  Mr.  Blagdon  !  "  exclaimed  the 
girl.  "  Surely  there  must  be  some  mistake — how  very 
funny  !  " 

"  How  very  kind,  you  should  say,"  corrected  her 
aunt.  "  I  am  positive  they  couldn't  have  cost  a  penny 
less  than  fifty  francs — just  look  at  these  carnations 
and  orchids  !  We  will  have  some  vases  and  put  them 
about  the  room." 

"  No,  no,  no,"  protested  Letty  ;  "  please  not  I  I 
don't  like  hothouse  flowers  in  a  bedroom  ;  but  do  you 
take  them  •  they  will  look  beautiful  below  stairs." 

"  Oh,  very  well,  /  never  refuse  a  good  offer,"  de- 
clared her  visitor,  collecting  them  into  the  box.  "  I 
suppose  you  will  write  and  thank  him  ?  " 

"  Must  I  ?  "  asked  the  invalid  with  flickering  colour. 

"  Well,  perhaps  as  you  arc  not  feeling  very  well  I  had 


104  THE  SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

better  do  it  for  you  ;  the  post  goes  out  in  ten  minutes," 
and  carrying  the  flowers  in  one  hand,  with  the  precious 
card  in  the  other,  Mrs.  Fenchurch  effected  a  precipitate 
departure. 

Whatever  Mrs.  Fenchurch  had  said  in  her  letter, 
the  result  was,  that  boxes  of  flowers  now  arrived 
at  The  Holt  about  twice  a  week ;  and  once  more  the 
atmosphere  within,  thawed  with  the  atmosphere 
without ! 


CHAPTER    X 

HUGO  BLAGDON  was  a  well-known  habitue 
of  Monte  Carlo,  and  he  fled  thither  early  in 
February  to  avoid  an  English  spring,  and  escape  from 
a  personality  that  threatened  to  lure  him  into  the  noose 
of  matrimony  !  His  grandfather  had  been  overseer 
in  a  coal  mine,  and  his  father,  Laban,  a  clever  man  of 
ceaseless  energy  and  enterprise,  had,  by  his  own  efforts, 
risen  to  vast  wealth.  He  was  a  typical  Yorkshire 
tyke  ;  hard-headed,  hard-bitten,  and  plain  of  speech, 
standing  squarely  on  his  feet  and  his  principles. 
When  over  fifty,  he  had  disposed  of  his  collieries  to  a 
syndicate,  and  looked  about  him  for  a  country  estate, 
and  a  suitable  consort.  At  this  time  Sharsley,  the 
ancient  seat  of  the  Scropes,  happened  to  be  in  the 
market  ;  the  family  had  fallen  on  evil  days,  and  the 
last  representative  was  a  thin,  dignified  old  gentleman, 
with  an  empty  purse  and  many  spinster  daughters. 
During  tedious  negotiations,  the  would-be  purchaser 
made  acquaintance  with  the  Squire's  family,  and 
when  he  took  over  the  property,  he  also  received  the 
taper  hand  of  the  stateliest  and  slenderest  of  the 
Scrope  sisters.  Ill-natured  gossips  declared  that  in 
consequence  of  this  arrangement,  the  canny  Yorkshire- 

105 


106  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

man  had  obtained  an  abatement  of  ten  thousand 
pounds  on  the  price  of  the  property — but  envious 
people  will  say  anything  !  Mrs.  Blagdon's  aristocratic 
relations  agreed  that  dearest  Carrie,  who  was  '  getting 
on,'  had  done  remarkably  well  for  herself ;  the  bride 
was  perfectly  satisfied  with  her  honest,  stolid  husband, 
and  he  for  his  part  felt  proud  of  his  Carrie  ;  she 
matched  Sharsley,  and  naturally  was  far  more  at  home 
there  than  himself.  Mrs.  Blagdon  fulfilled  her  duties 
to  admiration  ;  an  elegant,  dignified  figure,  she  sat 
at  the  head  of  his  table,  glorious  and  dazzling  in  the 
new  Blagdon  diamonds,  entertaining  her  neighbours 
with  gracious  distinction.  Moreover,  she  was  most 
kind  and  thoughtful  to  her  husband's  family,  espe- 
cially to  his  old  aunt,  Fanny  Jane,  who  spoke 
broad  Yorkshire,  had  not  marched  with  the  times, 
and  preferred  to  dine  at  one  o'clock — and  in  her 
bonnet. 

Having  figuratively  emerged  from  coal  to  the 
surface,  Laban  Blagdon  entered  into  country  life  with 
enthusiasm  ;  he  farmed,  he  supported  the  hounds 
and  the  Yeomanry,  and  sat  on  the  Bench  with  com- 
mendable punctuality.  His  first-born  was  a  girl. 
Four  years  later  her  brother  arrived  on  this  planet, 
amidst  great  rejoicings.  Blagdon  of  Sharsley  was 
immensely  proud  of  his  children  ;  he  had  none  of  his 
father's  ideas  of  stern  discipline,  and  was  an  extrava- 
gantly indulgent  parent.  In  his  opinion,  nothing  was 
too  good  for  Connie  and  Hugo — the  pair  could  do  no 
wrong. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  107 

Possibly  his  partiality  was  due  to  the  fact  that  they 
were  true  Blagdons  ;  large-boned,  and  loud  of  voice, 
exhibiting  no  traces  whatever  of  their  mother's 
ancestry.  This  poor  lady  did  her  utmost  to  influence 
them,  exerting  herself  surprisingly  for  a  Scrope,  but 
somehow  she  never  became  familiar  with  her  boy  and 
girl,  who  emancipated  themselves  as  soon  as  they  had 
quitted  the  nursery.  And  their  mother  found  it  difficult 
to  believe,  that  this  rough,  boisterous,  undisciplined 
couple,  were  actually  her  own  offspring.  Had  they 
been  those  of  other  people,  she  would  have  lifted 
her  delicate  hands,  and  declared  them  to  be  young 
savages ! 

Hugo  was  sent  to  a  preparatory  school,  and  then  to 
Eton ;  he  rode  well,  knew  the  points  of  a  horse,  was 
thoroughly  at  home  in  the  stables,  had  a  hearty  laugh, 
a  huge  appetite,  and  his  father  thought  him  an  un- 
commonly fine  lad  !  As  for  Connie,  she  was  the  apple 
of  Laban  Blagdon's  eye  ;  a  bit  of  a  hoyden,  and  no 
great  beauty,  but  a  girl  who  could  stick  on  a  horse, 
sing  a  good  song,  hold  her  own  in  talk,  and  what  more 
did  you  want  ? 

The  year  that  Connie  was  presented  to  her  sovereign 
her  father  died  suddenly  of  apoplexy,  and  was  widely 
and  sincerely  regretted  ;  sound  to  the  core,  a  just 
landlord  and  employer,  a  good  friend,  and  a  generous 
foe.  His  heir  was  at  sixteen  a  well-grown  youth,  with 
a  thick-set  figure,  a  strong  will,  rather  surly  manners, 
and  an  exaggerated  sense  of  his  own  importance. 
From  Eton,  he  went  (with  great  reluctance)  to  Oxford, 


108  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

and  there  his  idleness  and  scrapes  gained  him  a  certain 
amount  of  notoriety. 

As  for  his  sister,  she  was  launched  in  London 
Society,  with  considerable  eclat  by  her  mother's 
aristocratic  connections  ;  Connie  had  no  taste  for  balls 
or  the  usual  round  of  gaiety,  but  developed  an 
unexpected  passion  for  racing  !  At  Newmarket  she 
encountered  her  affinity;  a  good-looking,  graceless 
baronet,  who  had  run  through  his  patrimony  on  the 
turf,  and  did  not  bear  an  enviable  reputation.  How- 
ever, in  spite  of  all  that  her  mother,  relations,  and 
trustees,  could  urge  or  threaten,  Connie  Blagdon 
insisted  on  marrying  Teddy  Rashleigh.  She  was, 
as  her  father  had  often  declared,  "  a  fine,  strapping 
girl,  who  knew  her  own  mind,  with  a  handsome  fortune 
pinned  on  to  her  skirts  "  ;  and  Sir  Teddy  was  not 
indifferent  to  this  agreeable  fact. 

At  first,  the  happy  pair  travelled  about  from  one 
race  meeting  to  another,  enjoying  an  atmosphere  of 
continual  and  stimulating  excitement.  In  winter, 
they  went  abroad,  returning  in  time  for  the  first  Spring 
Meeting.  After  a  few  years  of  a  gay  and  rambling 
existence,  came  much  harassing  anxiety,  rumours  of 
serious  troubles  about  racing  and  gambling  debts  ; 
these  rumours  were  followed  by  the  sudden  death  of 
Sir  Teddy  Rashleigh.  An  overdose  of  sulphonal,  taken 
by  mistake  (his  creditors  had  their  own  opinions  as  to 
the  '  mistake '),  and  his  widow  found  herself  at  the  age 
of  twenty-eight,  with  the  miserable  remains  of  a 
large   fortune,    and   alienated   from   all   her   friends. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  109 

During  her  married  life,  she  had  acquired  extravagant 
and  reckless  tastes,  gambled,  betted,  and  plunged — 
and  oh,  how  she  hated  poverty  ! 

Fortunately,  she  and  her  brother  had  always  been 
chums,  and  he  now  came  so  generously  to  her  assistance, 
that  most  of  her  world  believed  Lady  Rashleigh  to  be 
not  only  a  gay,  but  wealthy  widow.  She  was  loud, 
good-natured,  and  plain  ;  a  big  woman,  with  high, 
square  shoulders,  quantities  of  coarse  brown  hair 
(dyed  red),  a  broad,  shrewd  face,  redeemed  by  a  set  of 
flashing  white  teeth.  Men  called  her  "  a  rare  good  sort, 
and  as  clever  as  they  make  them,"  meaning  that  Lady 
Rashleigh,  knew  her  world  thoroughly,  and  contrived, 
whilst  keeping  on  bowing  terms  with  Mrs.  Grund}',  to 
enjoy  a  remarkably  festive  time. 

Meanwhile  Hugo,  his  own  master  for  many  years, 
had  been  engaged  in  sowing  wild  oats,  and  seeing  life. 
His  mother  had  taken  her  departure  from  Sharsley  ; 
this  severance  had  been  a  heart-breaking  business, 
but  Hugo's  manners  and  customs,  and  Hugo's  as- 
sociates, were  altogether  too  much  for  that  delicate, 
decorous,  and  mid-Victorian  matron.  Instead  of  family 
prayers,  and  breakfast  at  nine  o'clock,  Hugo's  lady 
guests  appeared  at  midday.  They  smoked,  talked 
slang,  discussed  the  latest  odds,  the  latest  scandals, 
and  more  or  less  ignored  their  old-fashioned  hostess  ; 
the  men  were  even  worse :  a  gambling,  hard-drinking, 
horsy  crew ;  so  Mrs.  Blagdon  went  away  to  Cannes, 
and  established  herself  in  a  splendid  villa,  far  aloof 
from  her  unsatisfactory  and  unfilial  children. 


110  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Sharsley,  thus  abandoned,  was  consigned  to  the  care 
of  a  tall,  dashing  housekeeper,  known  as  Mrs,  Bates, 
who  wore  rich  silk  gowns,  expensive  jewellery,  rouged 
heavily,  and  knew  all  about  the  best  brands  of  cham- 
pagne. To  do  her  justice,  she  was  a  capable  and  active 
person,  thoroughly  experienced  in  the  management 
of  servants,  had  a  tongue  like  a  whip-lash,  and  under- 
stood the  art  of  getting  work  out  of  her  subordinates 
— whilst  she  looked  on.  Two  or  three  times  a  year  there 
were  house-parties  for  shooting  and  hunting,  and  on 
these  occasions  Lady  Rashleigh,  who,  needless  to  add, 
had  always  kept  on  the  best  of  terms  with  her  brother, 
was  the  jolly,  easy-going  hostess  ;  a  totally  different 
chatelaine  to  her  frigid  mother,  and  not  easily  surprised, 
daunted,  or  shocked.  Few  were  aware  that  Connie 
had  a  very  small  income,  (though  her  extravagant 
tastes  were  well  known,)  and  it  was  important  that  she 
should  stand  well  with  Hugo.  He  paid  the  rent  of  her 
London  fiat,  her  hotel  bills  when  she  accompanied  him 
abroad,  made  her  presents  of  frocks  and  furs,  and  was 
altogether  a  really  generous  brother.  For  her  part,  she 
listened  to  his  grievances  with  sympathetic  interest, 
cultivated  his  particular  friends,  gave  charming  little 
dinners  and  suppers,  and  was  ever  ready  to  play 
chaperon,  buffer,  or  confidante. 

Blagdon  had  naturally  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances, 
and  was  a  good  deal  spoiled  by  the  flattery  which  is 
habitually  offered  to  an  open-handed  bachelor  with 
the  income  of  a  prince.  He  had  a  special  coterie  of 
associates,  known  to  envious  scoffers  as  the  '  pack,' 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  111 

Chief  in  importance  was  Lord  Robert  Cheyne  (first 
cousin  to  Blagdon  on  the  Scrope  side) ;  this  hard- 
riding,  round -backed  httle  gentleman,  had  bright, 
twinkhng  brown  eyes,  and  a  forehead  so  lofty  that 
it  seemed  to  stretch  half-way  across  his  poll — and 
imparted  a  worshipful,  sedate,  and  middle-aged 
appearance, — flatly  contradicted  by  his  lordship's 
character  and  years.  He  had  a  kind  heart,  a  dull 
brain,  and  a  lean  purse,  and  believed  Cousin  Hugo, 
"  who  gave  him  lots  of  shootin'  and  huntin',''  to 
be  a  rare  good  sportin'  sort,  and  one  of  the 
best  ! 

Next,  the  Baron  Van  Krab,  a  fair,  well-set-up  man 
of  forty,  a  Britisher  of  Dutch  extraction,  and  not 
unknown  in  the  City.  Captain  Herdby,  a  retired 
cavalryman,  handsome,  well  bred,  well  groomed,  some- 
what mysterious  as  to  his  antecedents,  but  knowing 
(or  pretending  to  know)  the  great  world,  and  ready  to 
ride,  dine,  shoot,  dance,  or  fill  any  gap  at  a  moment's 
notice.  Sir  Thomas  and  Lady  Slater,  '  Foxy  and 
Shocky  '  as  they  were  nicknamed ;  he  being  a  little  man 
with  a  bright,  cunning  eye,  a  bushy  red  moustache, 
and  the  legs  of  a  jockey ;  a  conspicuous  patron  of  the 
turf ;  his  wife,  also  devoted  to  racing,  was  a  tall, 
showy-looking  woman,  with  a  large  mouth,  magnificent 
teeth,  and  an  ever-ready  laugh.  She  made  an  imposing 
figure  in  evening  dress,  told  the  most  outrageous  stories, 
and  had  an  insatiable  appetite  for  gossip  and  presents. 
But  Mr.  Blagdon's  most  particular  friend  was  Mrs. 
Fred  Corbett,  an  attractive  free-lance,  with  a  willowy 


112  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

form,  and  a  pair  of  wonderful  amber  eyes  ;  a  glittering 
creature,  all  frivolity,  extravagance,  and  selfishness, 
separated  from  her  husband,  (who,  it  was  said,  had 
some  vague  occupation  in  the  Argentine,)  and  Connie 
Rashleigh's  chere  amie. 

When  Hugo  arrived  at  Monte  Carlo,  he  found  the 
two  ladies  already  installed  at  the  Hermitage,  the 
Baron  and  the  Slaters  were  at  the  Paris. 

The  great  man  was  naturally  hailed  with  sincere  and 
fervent  joy,  and,  for  his  part,  he  was  not  indifferent  to 
the  adulation  of  his  little  court ;  he  enjoyed  listening 
to  their  spicy  gossip,  delicate  and  highly  seasoned 
flatteries,  whilst  he  steeped  himself  in  sunshine  and 
luxury.  He  gave  his  circle  dinners  and  luncheons,  yes 
and  loans  ;  lavished  flowers  and  attentions  on  his 
sister  and  Lola  Corbett,  and  was  altogether  in  un- 
usual good-humour,  and  as  the  guests  put  it,  *  great 
form.' 

By  the  end  of  a  fortnight,  Monte  and  his  associates 
had  begun  to  pall  on  Blagdon ;  even  the  rooms  had  lost 
their  fascination.  The  Baron  had  bet  him  a  hundred 
pounds  on  pigeon-shooting — and  won.  Foxy  Slater 
had  put  him  on  an  outsider  and  let  him  in  heavily, 
and  the  Slaters  and  Connie  talked  racing  or  roulette  by 
the  hour,  and  bored  him  to  death. 

As  for  Lola,  she  made  awful  play  with  her  eyes,  said 
poisonous  things  of  other  women,  and  was  losing  her 
looks  !  It  was  just  at  this  critical  period,  that  Letty 
Glyn  was  once  more  introduced  to  his  attention.  A 
casual  remark  from  an  utter  stranger,  threw,  so  to 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  113 

speak,  this  beautiful,  innocent,  unhappy  girl,  into 
Blagdon's  arms. 

The  gay  season  at  Monte  had  reached  high  water, 
and  he  daily  came  across  acquaintances.  Lounging 
one  morning  against  the  parapet  below  the  Casino 
with  Colonel  Roland — a  man  who  belonged  to  his 
club — they  idly  watched  the  gay  world  go  by. 
Here  were  men  and  women  of  all  nations,  and  repu- 
tations ;  the  most  famous  names  in  Europe  were 
pacing  that  sunny  promenade.  The  two  noted 
and  remarked  on  various  familiar  faces — princesses, 
duchesses,  dancers,  statesmen,  actors,  authors,  and 
flocks  of  ordinary,  and  extraordinary,  birds  of 
passage. 

"  Full-dress  parade,"  said  Roland,  chucking  away 
the  end  of  an  excellent  cigar.  "  They  are  all  very  well — 
fine  feathers  make  fine  birds  ! — but  if  you  ask  7ne,  there 
isn't  a  woman  here  can  touch  that  little  Miss  What's- 
her-name  that  was  at  the  Brakesby  Hunt  Ball ;  she 
could  give  every  one  of  'em  a  stone  and  a  beating. 
Yes  " — with  a  nudge — "and  I  saw  yoit  dancing  with 
her,  you  dog  !  Oh,  you  have  an  eye  in  your  head, 
and  know  what's  what.  Of  course,  she  is  very  young, 
and  does  not  realise  her  own  value,  yet — but  if  she  had 
half  a  chance,  her  beauty  would  be — be — "  casting 
about  for  a  simile,  "  famous,  the  talk  of  England  !  " 

Blagdon  looked  hard  at  his  friend,  and  drawled 
indifferently — 

"  Think  so  ?  " 

"  Sure ;  and  now  I'm  off  to  golf.  Ta,  ta  ;  see 
I 


114  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

you  at  dinner  !  "  and  he  walked  away.  Blagdon  re- 
mained ;  he  selected  and  lit  another  cigar,  and  settled 
himself  to  meditate.  Roland  was  a  good  judge  ;  he 
had  knocked  about  a  bit.  But  the  girl  as  he  had  last 
seen  her  ! 

"  That,"  argued  common  sense,  "  was  merely  the 
shabby  dress  and  shoes  that  had  choked  him  off.  Yes, 
and  her  cold  red  hands.  i\ll  her  aunt's  fault — stingy  old 
devil !  At  the  ball,  she  was  well  turned  out — and  what 
a  difference  !  And,  by  George  !  he  could  afford  to  dress 
his  wife  properly.  A  beauty  that  would  be  famous, 
Mrs.  Hugo  Blagdon—! 

Once  more  his  thoughts  were  concentrated  on  Thomby 
— thoughts  which  subsequently  simmered  in  his  brain 
for  days.  Little  did  Mrs.  Corbett  suspect  them.  Her 
extravagance  was  increasing,  she  was  a  true  daughter 
of  the  horse  leech,  and  her  ceaseless  cry  was  "  Give, 
give  !  "  Every  morning  before  they  went  into  the 
Rooms,  she  would  take  a  little  turn  with  Blagdon, 
conduct  him  to  the  shops,  and  gaze  pathetically  into 
a  milliner's,  go  into  raptures  over  a  fifty-pound  cloak 
or  gown,  then  pilot  her  companion  to  the  Galerie 
Charles  HI,  and  a  certain  jeweller's,  where  she  gloated 
over  one  particular  necklace.  She  would  gaze  at  this, 
and  then  at  her  escort,  and  sigh,  and  sigh  ;  but  in  spite 
of  these  seductive  arts,  for  once  in  his  life  Blagdon  proved 
invulnerable.  Little  did  his  companion  guess,  when  he 
strolled  about  looking  into  windows,  and  criticising 
their  contents,  that  all  the  time  he  was  thinking  how 
well  such  an  ornament,  or  hat  or  frock,  would  become 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  115 

someone  else  ! — a  little  girl  in  a  remote  old  village,  in 
far-away  England.  If  Letty  Glyn  had  frocks  and  jewels, 
she  would  cut  them  all  out.  He  had  given  tons  of 
pretty  things  to  the  greedy  woman  beside  him,  and 
paid  tribute  in  not  a  few  staggering  dressmaker's  bills. 
Yes,  he  was  aware  that  Lola  was  dying  for  the 
emerald  necklace — but  he  was  not  to  be  drawn  ! 


CHAPTER    XI 

SAUNTERING  along  the  Casino  terrace  enjoying 
a  morning  cigar,  attended  by  the  Baron  and 
Mrs.  Corbett,  Blagdon  was  unaffectedly  disgusted  when 
a  gigantic  and  majestic  Grand  Duke  accosted  the  latter, 
and  after  a  brief  parley  annexed  the  lady,  to 
accompany  and  amuse  him — leaving  the  great  man, 
deserted  and  despoiled.  At  dejeuner  Lola  reappeared 
in  radiant  spirits,  cajoling,  irresistible,  and  full  of 
stories  about  the  Duke.  She  had  met  him  in  Paris, 
Vienna,  and  Marienbad,  they  were  old  old  friends. 
The  Duke  was  so  enormously  interested  in  Hugo  and 
anxious  to  make  his  acquaintance,  had  heard  of  his 
lovely  place,  his  splendid  hunters,  his  first-rate  shoot- 
ing. She  was  dining  with  the  Duke  that  night,  and 
would  bring  off  the  introduction  later  ;  Hugo  was 
both  mollified  and  flattered.  He  considered  himself 
the  equal  of  any  potentate,  but  by  all  accounts  this 
particular  Russian  Prince,  with  versts  of  shooting  and 
millions  of  roubles,  might  prove  a  satisfactory  acquaint- 
ance. After  dejeuner  he  went  into  the  Rooms,  and  was 
so  successful  at  the  tables,  and  so  pleased  with  himself 
and  the  world  in  general,  that  he  subsequently  strolled 
over  to  the  galerie,  and  purchased  the  coveted  neck- 
lace on  which  Mrs.  Corbett  had  long  set  envious  eyes. 

ii6 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  117 

Well,  after  aU,  it  cost  him  nothing — it  came  out  of  the 
pockets  of  the  Administration  and  really  was  a  re- 
markably neat  thing — a  diamond  collar,  with  large 
drops  of  cabochon  emeralds. 

In  the  evening,  the  Rooms  were  crowded.  Blagdon 
played  again,  but  was  out  of  luck,  and  also  a  little  out 
of  humour.  He  had  seen  the  Countess  of  Boncaster 
stare  fixedly  at  his  sister,  and  cut  her  dead.  Connie 
had  too  much  rouge  on ;  she  looked  dishevelled 
and  excited,  and  was  gambling  recklessly — yet  it  was 
only  the  other  day  that  he  had  squared  up  her  betting 
book,  and  she  had  sworn  to  economise  and  reform. 

Wandering  through  the  rooms,  in  a  doorway  he  sud- 
denly encountered  Mrs.  Corbett  and  the  gigantic  Grand 
Duke  ;  he  was  about  to  halt,  but  amazing  to  relate,  the 
lady  glanced  over  his  head  with  cold,  unseeing  eyes,  and 
so  passed  on.  He  paused  transfixed,  and  stared  after  the 
pair.  Lola  was  chattering  French,  and  gazing  up  at 
the  great  hulking  Tartar,  with  her  most  alluring  ex- 
pression. How  well  he  knew  it  !  He  watched  them 
as  they  circled  a  table,  and  melted  away  into  the 
crowd.  The  burly  Russian,  and  his  graceful  com- 
panion, who  was  actually  wearing  diamonds  that  he, 
Blagdon,  had  paid  for — yes,  and  the  very  gown  on  her 
back  !  As  he  stood  motionless  and  bewildered,  for  once 
experiencing  the  sting  of  smarting  vanity,  and  dwelling 
on  the  late  decisive  incident,  the  Baron  accosted  him, 
with  a  scared  white  face. 

"  I  have  been  looking  for  you  all  over  the  shop,"  he 
began.    "  I  say,  old  chap,  I'm  cleared  out.    Can  you 


118  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

let  me  have  a  couple  of  mille  notes,  just  to  go  on  with  ? 
I'll  pay  you  back  of  course." 

"  I  have  only  one  left,"  rejoined  Blagdon  in  a  sulky 
voice,  as  he  reluctantly  produced  and  handed  over  a 
note,  then  before  the  Baron  could  thank  him  he  had 
turned  away,  and  abandoned  the  Casino  for  the  cool, 
moonlit  gardens.  Here  he  lit  a  cigar,  sat  down  alone 
under  a  clump  of  Bamboos,  and  said  to  himself,  he  was 
going  to  have  a  good  solid  think.  Blagdon  had  inherited 
a  certain  amount  of  his  father's  shrewdness,  and  this 
on  rare  occasions  struggled  to  the  surface,  and  he 
beheld  his  associates  by  the  light  of  common 
sense.  Connie  and  her  racing  debts ;  the  penniless 
Baron  and  his  borrowings ;  Lola,  her  bills  and 
jewellery — a  greedy  pack,  all  for  themselves  !  If  he 
were  a  pauper,  not  one  of  them  would  come  near  him. 
Then  a  beautiful  innocent  face  rose  before  his  mental 
vision.  What  a  contrast  to  the  painted,  powdered, 
artificial  women  of  his  acquaintance  !  She  was  the 
genuine  article :  her  lovely  hair  and  complexion  were 
her  own.  And  yet  he  was  not  in  love  with  her,  but 
with  an  idea,  that  if  he  were  to  marry  Letty  Glyn,  his 
wife,  as  Roland  said,  would  be  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
women  in  England.  Wherever  she  was  seen,  she 
would  make  a  tremendous  sensation.  At  the  Ball,  and 
at  the  Bonhams'  how  she  had  eclipsed  everyone.  The 
resolve  sprang  up  suddenly  in  his  mind.  Miss  Glyn 
was  the  right  sort  of  wife  for  him.  He  was  a  man  who 
desired  to  possess  the  best  of  everything — chiefly  in 
order  to  excite  the  envy  of  others — and  as  he  sat  smok- 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  119 

ing  and  musing,  the  image  of  Letty  gathered  shape  and 
distinctness.  Finally  he  rose,  threw  the  stump  of 
his  cigar  among  the  bushes,  and  muttered  under 
his  breath  : 

"  By  Jove,  I'll  do  it  !  " 

Next  morning,  with  a  touch  of  unusual  restraint, 
Blagdon  dissembled  his  wrath  with  Lola  Corbett, 
and  accepted  her  playful  enquiry  as  to  "why  he  had 
never  come  near  her  in  the  Casino  ?  "  with  commend- 
able indifference. 

"  The  Duke  was  longing  to  meet  you,"  she  lied. 
"  We  searched  for  you  everywhere.  Now  he  has  gone 
off  to  Paris.    He  left  by  the  morning  train." 

To  which  Hugo  (also  lying)  replied  with  complete 
sang-froid : 

"  All  right,  better  luck  next  time — express  my 
profound  regrets  when  you  write  !  " 

Mrs.  Corbett  surveyed  him  under  her  thick  black 
lashes.  So  Hugo  could  joke  ;  he  had  not  noticed — 
what  a  relief ! 

"  Oh,  Hugo,"  she  resumed,  with  well-simulated 
animation,  "  what  do  you  think,  some  dreadful  person 
has  bought  my  adorable  pet  necklace — wasn't  it  wicked 
of  them  ?  When  I  went  to  pay  it  my  daily  visit,  it  was 
gone.  Who  can  have  bought  it  ?  "  and  she  looked  at 
him  sharply,  but  Hugo  merely  struck  a  match,  and 
shook  his  head. 

"  He  probably  has  it  in  his  pocket  the  whole  time," 
the  lady  assured  herself,  for  she  had  entered  the  shop 
full  of  anxious  enquiries,  and  received  a  most  particular 


120  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

description  of  the  purchaser,  and  his  name — since 
Blagdon  was  a  well-known  figure,  and  a  generous 
customer  to  many  of  the  establishments  in  the  princi- 
pality. 

No  later  than  the  next  morning  it  was  Mrs.  Corbett's 
turn  to  be  the  victim  of  a  disagreeable  surprise.  She 
discovered  Hugo  in  the  principal  florist's,  in  the  act 
of  despatching  his  offering  to  The  Holt.  "  Miss  Glyn," 
she  read  aloud  over  his  shoulder.  "  Oh,  you  sly,  sly 
Hugo  !  If  you  send  these  floral  tributes  to  that  pretty 
little  schoolgirl,  her  aunt  will  snap  you  up  before  you 
know  where  you  are  ;  and  she  will  be  a  thousand  times 
worse  than  any  mother-in-law — a  hateful,  managing, 
dangerous  woman." 

"  I  know  how  to  take  care  of  myself,"  he  answered 
sullenly ;  "  and  flowers  are  only  flowers — just  a  little 
civility  and  nothing  more." 

Mrs.  Corbett's  shot  about  the  aunt  had  gone  home ; 
and  Blagdon  actually  began  to  waver  with  respect  to 
the  resolution  he  had  made  in  the  garden.  He  had  a 
horror  of  being  what  is  called  '  managed  ' — he  who 
was  so  successfully  exploited  by  his  sister  and  his 
friends — and  if  only  Lola  could  have  let  well  alone,  his 
idea  of  Letty  Glyn  might  possibly  have  faded  ;  but  as 
it  was,  she  was  continually  chaffing  about  '  his  little 
village  maid,'  '  his  pretty  schoolgirl,  and  her  pinafores,' 
and  Hugo  Blagdon,  was  a  man  who  could  not  stand 
being  laughed  at, — although  he  keenly  enjoyed  seeing 
others  turned  into  ridicule  ;  so  one  evening  at  supper, 
surrounded  by  a  gay  and  mixed  company,  when  Mrs. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  121 

Corbett  threw  her  gibe  across  at  him,  stung  to  revolt 
and  indiscretion,  his  temper  suddenly  boiled  over, 
and  he  exclaimed  : 

"  Now  look  here,  Lola,  I'm  just  a  bit  tired  of  your 
chaff — this  joke  is  about  played  out.  Miss  Glyn,"  and 
he  glared  round  the  circle,  "  is  the  prettiest  girl  I 
have  ever  seen — bar  none — and  I  am  going  to  marry 
her  !  Here,"  he  added,  "  fill  your  glasses — I  call  upon 
you  to  drink  the  health  of  the  future  Mrs.  Blagdon  !  " 

Sensation.  To  borrow  an  expression  from  legal  cases 
of  a  dramatic  character. 

Mrs.  Corbett  was  speechless  ;  leaving  her  champagne 
untasted  she  exclaimed : 

"  But,  Hugo,  of  course  you  are  joking — why  she  is 
only  a  child  of  seventeen — twenty  years  younger 
than  yourself  !  You  must  be  out  of  your  senses. 
You,"  and  there  was  a  challenge  in  her  eye,  "  never 
could  be  such  a  fool !  " 

"  Wait  till  you  see,"  he  growled. 

"  Perhaps  the  lady  won't  have  you  ?  "  suggested  one 
of  his  fair  friends  with  a  malicious  laugh. 

"  I  don't  think  there's  much  doubt  about  that," 
declared  the  Baron,  who  was,  however,  consumed  with 
alarm  by  this  sudden  announcement ;  a  bachelor 
Blagdon  was  one  thing,  a  married  man  with  a  very 
pretty,  and  no  doubt  influential  wife,  was  another — 
his  day  was  done  !  No  more  hundred-pound  cheques 
for  him — no  more  big  dressmaker's  bills  for  Mrs. 
Corbett,  no  more  long-tailed  hunters  for  Lord  Robbie ; 
all  the  same,  there  was  no  harm  in  hedging  a  bit. 


122  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

The  day  after  the  supper  party  Blagdon  abruptly 
announced  that  he  was  going  home.  He  had  taken  a 
final  turn  along  the  terrace  alone  under  the  stars,  and 
assured  himself,  that  these  harpies  were  getting  a  bit 
too  much  for  him.  They  looked  upon  him  as  their 
paymaster,  and  Lola  was  beyond  all  bounds — her  bills 
were  really  outrageous  ;  she  was  too  fond  of  cigarettes 
and  champagne ;  he  had  about  enough  of  Monte  Carlo, 
and  decided  to  cut  the  whole  blooming  show. 

Before  leaving  for  England  he  went  over  to  Cannes 
in  order  to  interview  his  mother,  and  inform  her  that 
he  was  about  to  get  married. 

"  Married  !  "  she  exclaimed  ;  "  and  to  whom  ?  " 
She  stiffened  all  over  as  she  added,  "  I  trust  she  is  a 
reputable  person  ?  " 

"  Rather:' 

"  Is  it  one  of  Lady  Barron's  nieces  ?  " 

"  No,  no,"  with  a  gesture  of  indignant  scorn  ;  "  some- 
one much  younger  and  prettier.  You  know  Mrs. 
Fenchurch  ?  " 

"  Very  slightly,"  she  answered  loftily. 

"  Well,  it's  her  niece." 

"  What— that  little  Miss  Glyn  ?  " 

"  Ye-es  ;  but  she's  not  so  little,  a  good  five  foot 
seven." 

"  But,  my  dear  Hugo,  I  understand  she's  only  a 
schoolgirl." 

"  She's  past  seventeen — everyone  doesn't  marry 
when  they  are  middle-aged  "  (an  unfilial  rap  at  his 
mother).    "  She  is  awfully  pretty;  extraordinarily  good- 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  123 

looking,  I  may  say,  and  accomplished.  I  heard  her 
playing  and  singing  at  the  Bonhams',  and  I  tell  you  she 
astonished  them." 

"  And  you  astonish  me  !  She  is  far  too  young. 
What  you  want,  Hugo,  is  a  handsome,  clever,  well-bred 
girl,  who  has  been  about  the  world  a  bit,  who  will  be 
able  to  manage  a  big  establishment,  and  take  her 
proper  place  in  the  County." 

"  Thank  you,  I  know  that  sort  !  but  they  wouldn't 
suit  me.  I'm  not  looking  for  a  manageress,  or  a 
housekeeper,  what  I  want  is  a  beauty  who  makes 
everyone  turn  round,  and  stare  at  her." 

"  Ah  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Blagdon,  and  she  relapsed 
into  silence.  Hugo's  choice  might  have  been  much 
worse.  To  tell  the  truth,  she  had  always  anticipated 
that  a  lady  from  the  boards  of  the  Jollity  Theatre 
would  be  her  future  daughter-in-law. 

"  And  when  is  it  to  be  ?  "  she  asked  at  last. 

"  I  am  going  straight  home  now  to  propose  for  her. 
I'll  get  it  fixed  up  as  soon  as  the  trousseau  is  in  hand. 
I'd  like  to  spend  May  on  the  Italian  lakes." 

"  You  seem  pretty  sure  of  her,  my  dear  Hugo." 

"  I'm  sure  of  her  aunt,  and  that  comes  to  the  same 
thing  ;  the  girl  has  never  been  allowed  to  have  a  will 
of  her  own,  and  wouldn't  say  boo  to  a  goose." 

"  I  shouldn't  have  thought  that  was  your  style. 
However,  I  am  thankful  that  your  future  wife  will  be  a 
lady.  She  has  good  blood  in  her  veins,  and  no  doubt 
will  develop  ;  the  one  great  drawback  in  my  opinion 
is,  that  she  is  too  young." 


124  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  Well,  there's  something  in  that,  you  know,"  he 
replied.  "  She  has  no  past — hasn't  had  time  to  have 
one." 

"  No,  and  most  of  your  lady  friends  have  not  one — 
but  half  a  dozen." 

"  I  suppose  you  won't  be  home  before  June  ?  " 
ignoring  this  thrust. 

"  Oh,  I  will  return  for  the  wedding,  of  course.  A 
daughter-in-law  is  an  important  interest.  You  will 
let  me  hear  how  things  go,  won't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I  must  be  off  now,  as  I'm  leaving  by  the 
evening  train.  Good-bye,  old  lady,"  and  he  touched 
her  forehead  with  his  lips,  stepped  out  into  the 
verandah,  and  so  disappeared. 

Precisely  a  fortnight  later,  Mrs.  Blagdon  received 
the  following  telegram  : 

"  All  settled,  date  May  20th,  Hugo." 


CHAPTER    XII 

THE  news  in  the  telegram  was  authentic.  Blag- 
don's  determination  and  her  aunt's  strong  sup- 
port, had  overborne  Letty's  reluctance,  and  almost  in 
spite  of  herself,  she  was  about  to  make  what  is  called 
'  a  great  match.'  When  the  suitor  appeared  at  The 
Holt,  and  laid  his  intentions  and  hopes  before  Mrs. 
Fenchurch,  it  was  with  difficulty  that  the  lady  could 
conceal  her  satisfaction.  With  suppressed  emotion, 
she  assured  her  would-be  nephew,  that  he  had  her  own 
and  her  husband's  warmest  goodwill :  to  which  he 
rejoined  with  a  nonchalant  laugh  : 

"  Oh  yes — of  coiurse — that's  all  right ;  but  what 
about  Miss  Glyn  ?  " 

"  Letty  is  in  absolute  ignorance  of  her  conquest," 
replied  the  lady  with  measured  emphasis.  "  She  is 
only  seventeen,  very,  very  shy  and  innocent ;  if  you 
startle  or  frighten  her,  nothing  on  earth  would  induce 
her  to  marry  you.  She  is  not  worldly  in  any 
sense,  and  all  the  splendid  fairy  tale  things  you  can 
bestow,  will  not  appeal  to  her,  as  they  would  to 
other  girls." 

Blagdon  made  no  reply  ;  he  was  standing  with  his 
back  to  the  fire,  looking  down  thoughtfully  on  his 
irreproachable  boots.    Suddenly  he  raised  his  eyes  and 

125 


126  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

fixed  them  on  his  companion,  with  an  expression  of 
insolent  increduHty. 

"  I  think  with  a  horse  and  a  dog  of  her  own,  some 
pretty  frocks  and  a  few  young  friends,  Letty  would  be 
contented  and  happy,"  she  continued  with  composure. 
"  Be  very  quiet  with  her  at  first,  and  allow  the  idea  to 
dawn  upon  her  by  degrees.  I  mean,  the  idea  of  becom- 
ing your  wife." 

"  How  do  you  mean,  dawn  ?  " 

"  Well,  if  I  may  make  a  suggestion,  suppose  you  put 
up  at  Ridgefield  and  ride  over  to  lunch  occasionally  ; 
I  have  a  quiet  mare  I  can  lend  Letty — my  husband 
will  do  gooseberry — do  you  see  ?  " 

"  I  see,"  he  nodded,  "  all  right.  Yes  I'll  take  your 
tip.  But  look  here,  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  don't  let  us 
have  a  long  engagement,  and  all  that  sort  of 
tomfoolery  !  " 

"  No,  no,  certainly  not  ;  happy  is  the  wooing  that's 
not  long  a-doing,"  she  quoted.  "  And  now  I'll  send 
Letty  to  talk  to  you,  and  go  and  see  if  they  are 
bringing  in  tea." 

Blagdon  accepted  the  chaperon's  advice,  assuring 
himself  that  Mrs.  Fen  was  a  clever  woman,  she  should 
run  this  part  of  the  show ;  and  accordingly,  on  various 
pretexts,  he  was  to  be  seen  at  The  Holt,  two  or  three 
times  a  week. 

He  was  really  fond  of  the  little  girl.  What  colouring  ! 
what  hair  !  what  lovely,  innocent  eyes  !  The  magic 
quality  of  her  youth  and  freshness  was  indescribably 
piquant  to  his  jaded  taste. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  127 

It  was  a  fact  that  Letty — ever  sensitive  to  her  sur- 
roundings— had  in  the  present  genial  atmosphere  un- 
folded like  an  exquisite  flower.  Her  aunt  was  a  puzzle, 
she  was  changed,  and  had  become  so  thoughtful  and 
indulgent,  and  had  actually  lent  her  a  beautiful  mare 
called  '  Mouse,'  and  every  day,  wet  or  fine,  she  and 
her  uncle  openly  and  happily  enjoyed  long  rides  and 
long,  confidential  conversations.  Occasionally  these 
rides  and  conversations  were  shared  by  Mr.  Blagdon, 
who  would  drop  in  to  lunch  and  join  the  party.  Exercise 
and  April  sunshine,  brought  smiles  and  radiance  into  the 
girl's  face,  and  Blagdon  was  astonished  to  discover 
how  animated  and  gay  Miss  Glyn  could  be.  How  she 
and  her  uncle  chaffed  one  another  ;  how  many  jokes 
they  shared.  With  respect  to  himself,  her  manner 
was  guarded — not  to  say  distant ;  a  supreme  indiffer- 
ence to  his  wealth  and  importance,  enhanced  her  value 
tenfold.  Supposing — chilling  thought — that  in  spite 
of  his  boastful  confidence,  sweet  seventeen  were  to 
refuse  him  ? 

Pricked  by  this  apprehension,  Blagdon  took,  for 
him,  infinite  pains  to  please,  and  tuned  his  personality 
in  a  lower  key,  more  in  harmony  with  that  of  his 
companion  ;  and  exhibited  the  best  side  of  his  character 
— generosity,  a  love  of  animals,  a  certain  brusque 
sincerity.  He  looked  his  best  in  the  saddle,  was 
a  bold  and  admirable  horseman,  and  Miss  Glyn  began 
to  like  him.  He  had  made  her  a  present  of  a  fox 
terrier,  and  was  so  good-natured,  and  not  at  all 
grand  now. 


128  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

By  sundry  subtle  indications,  half  a  word,  a  quick 
glance,  Letty  gathered  that  her  new  friend  was  not 
one  of  her  aunt's  disciples — indeed,  rather  the  reverse  ! 
Here  was  one  strong,  if  secret,  bond  between  them,  a 
rooted  dislike  of  the  same  individual :  and  on  this 
slender  foundation,  did  Letty  Glyn  venture  to  build 
her  home  1 

At  first,  when  '  the  idea  '  presented  itself  to  her 
mind — the  idea,  that  Mr.  Blagdon  wished  to  marry 
her — she  thrust  it  from  her  in  dismay.  This  was  not 
the  husband  she  looked  for,  when,  with  her  face  buried 
in  the  counterpane,  she  had  made  to  herself  a  sobbing, 
smothered,  vow.  And  yet,  whispered  the  persistent 
*  idea,'  he  was  kind,  and  he  was  strong ;  he  would  give 
her  a  home  of  her  own,  and  protect  her  from  Aunt 
Dorothy  !  And  Aunt  Dorothy  was  so  bent  upon  this 
marriage.  The  girl  shivered  as  she  thought  of  her 
future,  if  her  tyrant  were  disappointed !  Poor 
Uncle  Tom  did  not  count ;  truth  held  before  her,  the 
remorseless  fact,  that  she  had  to  choose  between  her 
aunt,  and  Mr.    Blagdon — Which  was  it  to  be  ? 

Naturally  Mrs.  Fenchurch  had  enlarged  upon  Blag- 
don's  position  and  wealth  ;  when  she  spoke  of  Sharsley 
and  its  splendours  she  became  positively  eloquent. 

"  The  Scrope  heirlooms,  my  dear  child,  are  worth  a 
fortune,  and  beyond  the  reach  of  American  dollars. 
Old  Scrope  made  them  over  with  the  place  ;  the  minia- 
tures are  marvellous,  and  there  are  two  Nankin  jars 
there  that  a  Chinaman  would  worship  on  his  knees ! 
If  Hugo  asks  you  to  marry  him,  Letty,  you  will  be  the 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  129 

luckiest  girl  in  England  !    Has  he  said  anything  ?  "  she 
enquired  after  a  moment's  silence. 

"  No,"  faltered  the  victim,  with  scarlet  cheeks. 
"  Nothing." 

"  What  ?  "    The  question  was  like  a  bullet. 

"  But  I — I — I  think  he  wishes  to.  Aunt  Dorothy." 

"  Then  let  him  speak,  for  Heaven's  sake  !  "  urged 
Mrs.  Fenchurch  with  authoritative  emphasis. 

"  Do  remember,  my  dear,  that  you  have  only  your 
little  pension,  and  if  anything  were  to  happen  to  your 
uncle,"  she  paused  expressively,  leaving  the  question 
to  be  answered  by  the  imagination  of  her  companion. 

One  morning  shortly  after  this  conversation,  Letty 
found  herself  in  the  drawing-room  alone  with  Blagdon, 
and  he  spoke. 

"  Look  here,  Miss  Glyn,"  he  began  abruptly,  "I'm 
no  good  at  beating  about  the  bush." 

Letty  glanced  up  at  him  interrogatively.  She  was 
sitting  in  the  window,  knitting  golf  stockings  for  her 
uncle. 

"  You  can  bet  it's  not  to  see  your  aunt  Eve  been 
coming  over  here,  eh  ?    It's  to  see  you  !  " 

Letty  looked  down  :  her  fingers  were  shaking  visibly. 

"  I  am  older  than  you,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing," 
he  continued  airily  ;  "  but  I'm  not  a  bad  sort,  as  my 
sister  can  tell  you,  and  I  want  to  know  if  you  will 
marry  me.  Come  now,  don't  turn  away  like  that,  if 
it's  going  to  be  '  yes.'    Give  me  your  hand." 

Suddenly  she  heard  her  aunt's  voice  in  the  hall;  it 
sounded  unusually  sharp,   and  dictatorial,  and  in  a 


130  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

panic  of  terror,  Letty  extended  a  cold,  limp  little  hand, 
on  which  Blagdon  instantly  imprinted  a  lingering,  and 
burning  kiss. 

Then  the  door-handle  turned  noisily  to  admit  Mrs. 
Fenchurch,  and  her  newly  pledged  niece  rose  hastily 
to  her  feet,  and  all  but  ran  out  of  the  room. 

Dorothy  Fenchurch  sat  late  that  night,  writing  her 
great  news  on  her  best  crested  paper,  to  all  her  most 
important  correspondents.  She  and  Hugo,  as  she  now 
called  him,  had  had  a  talk :  the  wedding  could  take 
place  soon — there  was  really  nothing  to  wait  for.  Tom 
Fenchurch  was,  of  course,  brought  into  the  consulta- 
tion :  he  had  lately  begun  to  think  that  Blagdon  was 
not  such  a  bad  sort,  and  that  Letty  might  make  some- 
thing of  him,  after  all — ^though  down  in  his  heart  he 
did  not  approve  of  the  match  ;  but  who  could  with- 
stand Dorothy  ?  Now,  as  he  took  part  in  and  listened 
to  this  discussion,  his  contribution  consisted  of  the 
words,  repeated  over  and  over  again  : 

"  Too  young,  too  young ;  the  child  is  too  young ; 
much  too  young."  But  it  was  as  the  voice  of  one 
crying  in  a  wilderness,  Tom  Fenchurch  was  in  the 
minority,  the  vote  for  an  early  wedding  was  easily 
carried,  and  a  notice  to  The  Morning  Post  to  that 
effect,  clinched  the  business. 

Telegrams  and  letters  poured  in  upon  clever  Mrs. 
Fen :  congratulating  her  upon  this,  her  most  glorious 
achievement  ;  not  only  was  she  the  best  housekeeper, 
the  best  gardener,  the  best  judge  of  old  furniture 
in  the  land,  she  had  now  crowned  all  her  successes 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  131 

by  marrying  her  niece  to  the  greatest  parti  in  the 
County ! 

Naturally  there  were  some  spiteful  and  envious  de- 
tractors, and  one  or  two  disappointed  matrons  shook 
their  heads,  and  confided  to  their  friends  that,  "  They 
were  sorry  for  the  poor  little  girl." 

The  trousseau  engrossed  a  good  deal  of  time.  Mrs. 
Fenchurch  and  her  niece  made  many  trips  to  London 
for  shopping  and  fittings — fashionable  frocks,  far,  far 
beyond  the  ability,  but  not  the  ambition,  of  Mrs. 
Cope. 

Owing  to  these  absences,  and  Blagdon's  own  en- 
gagements, the  happy  pair  did  not  see  much  of  one 
another.  Once  or  twice  he  came  over  and  stayed  at 
The  Holt  for  a  week-end,  bringing  wonderful  offerings 
for  his  fiancee.  He  was  absurdly  proud  of  Letty,  but 
surprisingly  discreet  and  thoughtful.  Colonel  Tom 
assured  his  quaking  heart,  that  the  match  might  turn 
out  all  right  after  all !    His  wife  had  no  fears. 

Letty  noticed,  with  grateful  surprise,  how  extremely 
kind  and  friendly  everyone  had  become  ;  people  to 
whom  she  was  almost  a  stranger,  and  various  far-away 
and  important  visitors,  came  to  The  Holt,  talked 
to  her  with  unaffected  interest,  and  gazed  at  her 
curiously.  One  and  all,  offered  their  warmest  con- 
gratulations, and  declared  that  they  would  call  as  soon 
as  ever  she  was  settled  at  Sharsley. 

But  Mrs.  Hesketh  was  discontented — ^her  normal 
attitude — she  refused  to  be  reasoned  with,  over- 
powered  with  grandeur  or  talked  down.     Her  own 


182  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

married  life  had  not  been  happy,  and  the  first  time 
she  was  alone  with  Letty  she  said  : 

"  My  dear  child,  of  course  I  congratulate  you,  and 
I  wish  you  all  happiness  ;  but  have  you  thoroughly 
made  up  your  mind  ?  You  do  not  know  the  world 
yet  ;  you  have  no  idea  what  marriage  means  ;  and 
you  are  so  diffident,  and  unassertive.  I  think  that  the 
post  of  wife  to  Mr.  Blagdon  is  too  big  for  you  !  " 

"  I'm  afraid  in  some  ways  it  is,"  she  assented.  "  I 
am  not  accustomed  to  money.  The  most  I  have  ever 
had  to  spend  as  I  chose,  was  the  ten  pounds  Uncle 
Tom  gave  me  last  Christmas.  Still,  I  think  Mr.  Blag- 
don and  I  will  get  on  together  ;  he  is  so  kind,  he  brings 
me  the  most  lovely  flowers  and  jewels,  and  says  that 
once  I  am  married  to  him,  I  shall  do  exactly  as  I 
please." 

"  I  wonder  what  you  will  please  to  do  ?  " 

"  I  will  try  to  please  him,  and  set  about  learning  ever 
so  many  things — to  ride  well — to  talk  amusingly — 
and " 

"  It  is  not  so  easy  to  ride  well,  and  talk  amusingly," 
Mrs.  Hesketh  quickly  interposed.  "  Such  things  come 
by  nature.  Now  shall  I  give  you  a  little  advice  ? 
Do  not  make  confidantes  of  anyone  in  a  hurry — be 
yourself,  and  keep  to  yourself  till  you  know  a  little 
more  of  life  and  do  not  expect  too  much  ;  remember 
that  marriage  is  a  blessing  to  few,  a  curse  to  many, 
and  a  great  uncertainty  to  all." 

Letty  broke  into  a  merry  laugh. 

"  Well,  you  are  a  Job's  comforter  !  " 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  133 

"Never  over-exert  yourself  to  please;  your  husband's 
imagination  may  endow  you  with  great  gifts." 

"  And  when  I  am  found  to  be  merely  a  silly,  inex- 
perienced little  chit  of  seventeen  ?  " 

"  Oh,  experience  will  come  fast  enough.  I  want  you 
to  promise  me  one  thing." 

"  I  will  promise  you  anything  you  like,"  said  Letty 
recklessly, 

"  Then  if  you  are  in  any  trouble  or  difficulty  come 
to  me — whatever  you  tell  me,  will  be  sacred,  and  as 
an  old  stager,  if  I  may  call  myself  so,  I  can  advise 
you  what  to  do,  and  what  not  to  do." 

"  I  can  promise  you  this  with  all  my  heart,  and  I 
would  a  thousand  times  rather  come  to  you  than  to 
Aunt  Dorothy,"  and  her  dehcate  lips  trembled.  "  She 
has  always  been  so  cold  to  me." 

"  Well,  at  any  rate,  she  is  immensely  proud  of  you 
now,  my  dear.  You  know  she  is  a  typical,  strong-willed 
sort  of  person,  who  lies  awake  at  night  thinking  of  what 
is  for  everyone's  good.  She  cannot  concentrate  on  one 
individual." 

"  Yes,  and  at  present  she  is  thinking  day  and  night 
about  the  wedding  preparations  :  Uncle  has  given  two 
hundred  pounds  to  spend  on  my  trousseau,  and  aunt  is 
choosing  it ;  but  I  have  been  allowed  to  have  a  say  in 
my  wedding  dress.  I'm  sure  I  don't  know  how  we 
shall  squeeze  all  the  congregation  into  the  church." 

"  You  have  seen  your  mother-in-law,  have  you  not?" 

"  I  spent  a  day  with  her  in  London — she  is  rather 
a  formidable  old   lady  with  a  long,   white    face,   a 


134  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

straight  back,  and  beautiful  hands.  I  cannot  imagine 
her  being  Hugo's  mother — she  is  so  unhke  him,  but  I 
feel  sure  that  she  means  to  be  kind :  she  gave  me  a  most 
beautiful  lace  veil,  and  a  set  of  opals  and  diamonds, 
and  by  and  by,  when  we  return  from  the  honeymoon, 
she  is  coming  down  to  stay  with  us.  Hugo  says  that 
I'm  bound  to  like  her  in  time — and  that  her  bark  is 
worse  than  her  bite." 

On  her  way  from  Oldcourt,  Letty  called  to  see  her 
friend,  the  Rector's  wife.  Mrs.  Denton  had  received 
that  morning  a  letter  from  her  nephew  Lancelot — who 
was  still  stationed  at  Aldershot — which  said  : 

"  What  is  this  that  I  hear  about  Miss  Glyn  and 
Blagdon  ?  Is  it  true  that  they  are  engaged  P  Oh,  my 
dear  aunt,  I  believe  that  Miss  Glyn  is  fond  of  you,  and 
if  you  could  possibly  give  her  a  word  of  warning,  it 
would  save  her  from  the  most  frightful  leap  in  the  dark 
a  girl  has  ever  taken.  Blagdon  will  tire  of  her  within 
six  months,  and  bully  her  for  the  rest  of  his  days. 
People  at  home  don't  know  the  sort  of  fellow  he  is  else- 
where, and  it  is  shameful  for  the  Fenchurchs  to  allow 
him  to  marry  their  niece.  I  know  Mrs.  Fen  ;  she  will 
enjoy  the  glory  of  a  great  match,  and  that  poor  little 
girl  will  be  led  like  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter.  Can't  you 
do  something  ?  You  will  think  I'm  gone  off  my  chump, 
and  am  writing  like  a  raving  idiot,  but  I  feel  crazy,  and 
it  is  no  secret  to  you,  dear,  clear-sighted  auntie,  that 
I'm  awfully  fond  of  Letty  myself.  It's  bad  enough 
that   she  should  marry  at  all — a  regular   facer  for 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  135 

me — but  that  she  should  marry  this  ruffian,  is  too 
awful !  " 

When  the  bride-elect,  all  smiles  and  blushes,  ran  in 
to  tell  Mrs.  Denton  about  the  kind  letters,  and  the 
lovely  presents,  she  had  received,  and  how  her  train 
was  to  be  of  white  satin,  and  she  was  to  have  two  pages, 
the  poor  lady  had  this  explosive  missive  under  her 
pillow.  Yet  she  dare  not  allude  to  it ;  her  courage 
failed  her,  she  could  not  utter  the  necessary  word. 
Already  she  had  thrown  cold  water  on  one  love  affair, 
and  how  was  she  to  defy  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  and  dash 
her  splendid  project  to  the  ground  ?    She  only  said  : 

"  Dear  Letty,  you  are  so  young  to  marry  !  I  do  wish 
you  could  have  waited  a  year,  and  seen  a  little  more 
of  the  world."  There  were  tears  in  her  eyes,  as  she 
added :  "  The  great  thing  that  is  necessary,  at  any 
rate  during  the  first  year  of  married  life,  is  forbearance. 
Everyone  is  on  their  best  behaviour  during  their 
engagement,  and  afterwards — so  many  little  things 
come  out — things  that  surprise  one.  I  wonder  if  you 
realise  the  solemn  vow,  '  Till  death  us  do  part,' 
marriage  is  such  a  serious  step." 

"  But  it  cannot  be  anything  so  very  dreadful,"  ob- 
jected Letty.  "  I  know  so  many  married  people,  and 
they  don't  look  a  bit  different  to  the  rest  of  the  world." 

"  Well,  dear  child,  I  pray  that  you  may  be  truly 
happy  in  your  new  home,  and  remember,  you  will 
always  have  a  loving  friend  in  me." 

What  did  these  two  ladies,  Mrs.  Denton  and  Mrs. 
Hesketh,  mean  by  impressing  upon  her  the  fact,  that 


136  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

they  were  her  friends  ?  Why  did  Mrs.  Denton  cry  ? 
What  could  happen  ?  Once  or  twice  a  certain  trem- 
bhng  shook  the  bride-elect ;  a  nervousness,  in  the  face 
of  the  unknown ;  but  this  was  a  mere  passing  tremor : 
and  crafty  and  vigilant  Mrs.  Fenchurch  contrived,  that 
Letty  was  left  little  time  for  solitude  or  reflection. 

Three  weeks  later  the  wedding  took  place.  It  was  a 
beautiful  May  day,  the  whole  village  was  en  fete,  the 
bride  looked  lovely — this  was  the  truth,  no  mere  con- 
ventional statement ;  the  bride's  aunt  wore  blue 
velvet,  bird  of  paradise  plumes,  and  an  expression  of 
radiant  triumph.  Evcrytliing  went  off  with  great 
eclat,  and  a  carriage  with  four  horses  whirled  away  the 
happy  pair,  upon  the  first  stage  of  their  honeymoon. 


CHAPTER    XIII 

THE  honeymoon — a  not  uncommon  experience — 
proved  more  or  less  of  a  disappointment  to  the 
wedded  pair.  The  bride,  dazed  and  confounded  by 
her  new  status,  and  the  change  from  a  nobody  to  a 
personage,  was  shy  and  silent,  and  felt  herself  to  be  a 
mere  lay  figure  in  the  hands  of  her  maid — a  sour-faced, 
phlegmatic  person  with  an  inflated  idea  of  her  own  im- 
portance, and  more  or  less  incompetent. 

Tucker  had  been  engaged  by  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  to 
whom  she  was  warmly  recommended  by  an  acquaint- 
ance ;  a  deceitful  lady  who  was  only  too  delighted  to  be 
rid  of  her  encumbrance. 

The  trousseau — also  selected  by  Mrs.  Fenchurch — 
was  even  less  satisfactory  than  the  maid  ;  it  was  old- 
fashioned  and  dowdy  ;  more  suitable  to  a  matron  of 
fifty,  than  a  girl  of  seventeen. 

Unfortunately  the  weather  on  the  Blue  Lakes  was 
wet,  and  it  is  pitiful  to  relate  that  after  a  fortnight  his 
bride  had  begun  to  bore  Blagdon  ;  akeady  he  was 
tired  of  his  experiment,  Letty  was  so  hopelessly  young, 
timid,  and  ignorant ;  they  had  hardly  any  interests  in 
common,  and  there  was  a  difference  of  twenty  long 
years  yawning  between  their  ages,  Blagdon 's  ex- 
perience  of  life  being   wide   and   highly   illustrated, 

137 


138  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

whilst  the  girl  had  seen  nothing  of  the  world,  beyond 
a  schoolroom,  and  The  Holt. 

As  for  her  beauty,  here  again  was  a  grievance  !  The 
bride  could  not  endure  the  admiration  of  her  fellow 
guests  ;  but  shrank  into  corners,  disappeared  into 
lobbies,  or  slinked  away  to  the  seclusion  of  her  private 
sitting-room.  Her  husband's  vast  fortune  made  no 
appeal  to  Letty  ;  lavish  outlay  of  money,  gorgeous 
suites  of  apartments,  reserved  railway  carriages,  and  a 
retinue  of  servants,  merely  filled  her  with  embarrass- 
ment and  alarm,  and  she  went  in  abject  terror  of  her 
maid  ;  Mrs.  Blagdon  was  a  tame,  shrinking,  remote 
sort  of  creature,  who  took  nothing  on  herself,  and 
yielded  her  husband  a  sort  of  childish  and  pathetic 
obedience.  Hugo  was  naturally  something  of  a  bully, 
and  the  more  the  girl  submitted  to  his  orders  and 
caprices,  the  more  he  encroached. 

The  happy  pair  stayed  at  Caddenabia  on  Como,  and 
then  moved  on  to  Baveno  on  Maggiore  ;  here  they 
boated,  went  for  drives,  and  enjoyed  their  tete-a-tete 
meals  in  solitary  dignity,  and  here,  alas !  the  sole  com- 
pany of  his  wife  palled  upon  Blagdon.  What  topics  had 
they  in  common  ?  How  could  he  talk  to  a  girl  who  had 
never  been  to  a  play,  or  to  a  race  meeting,  had  never 
read  a  naughty  book,  or  heard  even  a  whisper  of 
notorious  scandals  ?  He  soon  found  his  way  to  the 
billiard  and  smoking-rooms,  and  during  two  hopelessly 
wet  days,  when  there  was  a  lack  of  English  papers  and 
appreciative  society,  his  bad  humour,  undisguised  and 
unashamed,  was  vented  on  his  valet  and  Letty.  .  To 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  139 

the  hardened  servant,  a  rating  was  as  the  proverbial 
water  running  off  a  duck's  back  !  but  to  the  unaccus- 
tomed and  trembhng  girl,  it  proved  a  terrible  awaken- 
ing. One  evening,  the  condescending  Miss  Tucker  was 
surprised  to  find  her  mistress  crouched  at  her  bedroom 
window  the  impersonation  of  misery  and  despair.  "  So 
they  had  had  a  falling  out  already  !  Well,  it  was  early 
days." 

In  spite  of  prolonged  bathing  of  her  eyes,  and  a  justi- 
fia?ble  amount  of  powder,  there  were  still  traces  of  recent 
trouble  when  the  bride  appeared  at  dinner.  Fortun- 
ately the  newspapers  had  arrived,  and  during  the  meal 
her  husband — to  the  astonishment  of  polite  Italian 
waiters — read  them  at  intervals  between  the  courses  ; 
whilst  his  companion  sat  opposite,  with  dry  lips,  and  a 
deadly  sickness  at  her  heart. 

The  following  morning  Blagdon  abruptly  announced 
that  "  he  had  had  enough  of  loafing,  and  it  was  time  to 
set  their  faces  towards  home."  On  their  way  thither, 
they  stopped  in  Paris,  and  put  up  at  the  Hotel  Riche, 
and  here,  to  Hugo's  joy,  he  encountered  Sir  Billy 
and  Lady  Slater,  Mrs.  Freddy  Corbett,  and  Lord 
Robbie ;  a  loud-voiced,  cheery  quartette,  who  were 
returning  tardily  from  Monte  Carlo.  He  presented 
them  to  his  wife,  and  subsequently  entertained 
them  at  a  magnificent  dinner,  at  which  the  bride 
presided. 

Poor  girl !  she  was  hopelessly  out  of  her  element ; 
although  she  did  her  utmost  to  conceal  her  embarrass- 
ment, and  talk  and  identify  herself  with  these,  her 


140  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

first  guests.  For  their  part,  the  company  were  dumb- 
founded by  her  youth  and  simplicity,  her  shyness,  and 
pathetic  ignorance  of  Life. 

Oil,  she  was  pretty  enough,  they  agreed  ;  there  was 
no  mistake  about  her  looks  and  air  of  breeding  ;  but 
she  was  not  the  '  right  sort  of  wife  for  Blag  !  '  No,  he 
had  backed  the  wrong  one  this  time,  "  made  a  bad 
cast,"  said  Lord  Robbie  to  himself,  and  as  he  glanced 
from  the  host  to  the  hostess,  he  seemed  already  to 
catch  sight  of  an  impending  disaster. 

Somehow  the  girl's  clothes  were  not  right,  her  hair 
was  badly  dressed  ;  what  a  contrast  to  Lola  Corbett, 
in  her  marvellous  French  frock,  with  her  glittering 
ornaments,  and  shameless  shoulders.  Lola  was  in  great 
form  :  talking  incessantly,  gay,  provoking,  challenging. 
Of  course,  she  was  made  up :  but  she  took  the  centre 
of  the  stage,  and  beside  her  brilliance  and  vivacity  the 
timid  bride  looked  positively  washed  out,  and  dowdy. 

The  hostess  failed  to  understand  most  of  the  good 
stories,  chaff,  and  repartee  that  circulated  with  the  '84 
champagne.  She  felt  hopelessly  stupid  and  bewildered, 
when  the  company  roared  with  laughter,  and  hammered 
and  thumped  on  the  table — for  the  point  of  the  anec- 
dote, or  saying,  had  generally  eluded  her  altogether. 
Once,  an  unmistakably  plain  tale  brought  a  flood  of 
scarlet  into  her  face,  and  she  looked  so  startled  and 
so  shocked,  that  a  not  easily  embarrassed  party  felt 
momentarily  abashed. 

Mrs.  Blagdon  did  not  care  for  champagne,  she  pre- 
ferred lemonade  !  had  never  been  to  a  music-hall,  or 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  141 

smoked  in  her  life.  This  much  Lord  Robbie  gathered, 
as  they  rose  and  led  the  way  into  the  grand  lounge,  with 
its  dazzling  illuminations,  mighty  palms,  and  seductive 
seats  ;   its  admirable  orchestra  and  festive  company. 

Here,  the  party  soon  discovered  a  comfortable 
corner,  and  whilst  the  men  selected  cigars  and  liqueurs 
and  discussed  an  important  handicap,  the  two  lady 
guests  sank  into  deep  fauteuils — one  on  either  side 
of  their  hostess,  and  began,  with  clever  probing  ques- 
tions, to  examine  her  respecting  her  tour,  her  plans, 
her  tastes,  whilst  all  the  time  they  surveyed  her  with 
hard  and  critical  eyes.  Nothing  escaped  their  inspec- 
tion, from  the  little  mean  aigrette  in  her  ill-dressed 
hair,  to  the  tip  of  her  satin  shoe. 

Round  her  slender  throat  was  a  diamond  collet, 
its  emerald  pendants  presenting  a  charming  contrast 
with  a  snow-white  neck.  Mrs.  Corbett  instantly  recog- 
nised her  long  and  vainly  coveted  ornament,  and  her 
glance  gleamed.  So  here,  was  the  Monte  Carlo  neck- 
lace, by  rights  her  possession,  bestowed  on  this  little 
milk-and-water  school  miss  !  and  she  instantly  made 
up  her  mind  to  retrieve  the  treasure,  on  an  appro- 
priate opportunity. 

And  if  her  husband's  friends  were  disappointed  in 
his  bride,  it  was  no  less  true,  that  they  had  made  an 
unpleasant  impression  on  her.  She  shrank  in  secret 
consternation  from  the  men's  bold  glances,  ques- 
tioning eyes,  and  reckless  talk  ;  and  from  these  two 
painted  women — with  their  insufferable  patronage, 
and  familiarity. 


142  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  Of  course,  we  must  call  you  Letty,"  had  been  one 
of  Lady  Slater's  first  announcements,  "  I  am  Tatty, 
Mrs.  Corbett  is  Lola.  You  see  we  are  such  very  old 
pals  of  your  husband's,  we  couldn't  call  him  Hugo, 
and  you  Mrs.  Blagdon,  could  we  ?  " 

What  strange  eyes  they  had !  blacked  all  round, 
and  so  piercing  and  defiant ;  and  how  they  reeked  of 
some  heavy  Oriental  perfume.  As  for  their  splendid 
gowns,  it  made  Letty  nervous  to  contemplate  the 
fragile  shoulder  straps,  that  held  the  corsage  from 
slipping  into  space. 

Mrs.  Corbett  wore  a  wonderful  flame-coloured  gar- 
ment, touched  with  glimpses  of  gold  tissue,  and  pale 
blue  chiffon  ;  a  diamond  bow  sparkled  in  her  dark 
hair,  and  a  long  chain  of  pearls  dangled  to  her  waist. 
Lady  Slater  affected  a  more  massive  style  ;  lounging 
in  a  Bergere,  with  a  cigarette  between  her  lips  and  her 
knees  crossed,  she  gave  a  generous  exhibition  of  pink 
silk  stocking,  with  black  '  clocks  '  and  a  pair  of  fairly 
large  gold  shoes.  There  had  been  a  good  deal  of  chaff 
about  Lady  Slater's  stockings ;  it  appeared  that  she 
had  recently  won  a  dozen  pair,  in  a  bet  with  Lord 
Robbie. 

Turning  to  Lett}''  she  explained  : 

"  The  bet  was  about  you,  my  dear  !  though  Lm  not 
going  to  tell  you  what  it  was,"  and  she  gave  a  loud  and 
disconcerting  '  Ha  !   ha  !   ha  !  ' 

"  But  of  course  you'll  tell  me,  Tatty,"  began  Mrs. 
Corbett.  "  Good  Lord  !  what's  this  ?  "  and  she  sat 
erect.    "  Upon  my  word  !    Do  you  see  ?  " 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  143 

They  looked  ;  a  tall,  bold,  amazingly  handsome 
woman  had  entered,  accompanied  by  two  men ;  and 
paused  in  dramatic  prominence  as  if  to  challenge  atten- 
tion. The  effect  was  arresting.  This  new  arrival 
was  ablaze  with  diamonds — an  audacious  nudity  but 
partly  concealed  by  ropes  of  pearls.  Her  dress  was 
exactly  similar  to  the  one  worn  by  Mrs.  Corbett. 

"  My  hat  !  "  exclaimed  Lord  Robbie. 

"  Who  is  she  ?  "  whispered  Letty. 

"  Amora,  the  actress,  the  most  notorious  woman  in 
Paris.  I  say,  Lola,"  turning  to  her  with  a  grin,  "  here's 
your  twin  !  ' ' 

At  this  moment,  Amora,  impersonation  of  wealth 
and  wickedness,  swept  by,  casting  as  she  passed,  a 
glance  of  withering  scorn  upon  her  duplicate  ;  their 
eyes  met  with  a  shock,  and  blazed  as  two  flames. 

"  Tartare  told  me  on  her  oath  that  mine  was  the 
exclusive  model,"  began  Mrs.  Corbett,  a  little  breath- 
lessly, as  soon  as  she  had  recovered  her  composure. 
She  still  looked  alarmingly  furious  as  she  added,  "  I 
paid  her  three  thousand  francs  for  this  rag,  and  she 
has  gone  and  made  a  copy  for  that  devil  !  "  Li  her 
excitement  she  had  raised  her  voice — people  were 
staring  ;  as  Blagdon  and  Sir  Billy  turned  about,  she 
paused,  and  muttered  to  herself  in  a  manner  that 
boded  ill  for  Madame  Tartare  ! 

Lady  Slater  now  rose  and  beckoned  to  Hugo. 

"  Come  over  to  this  settee,"  she  said ;  "  there  is  just 
room  for  two  httle  people — and  have  a  flirtation  with 
me." 


144  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Blagdon  assented  obediently,  and  as  she  seated  her- 
self she  continued  : 

"  It  was  only  an  excuse  to  tell  you  that  I  think  your 
little  girl  is  just  too  sweet  for  anything  !  " 

He  nodded  with  stolid  complacency. 

"  But  she  wants  a  lot  of  what  we  sporting  folk  call 
'  handling.'  She's  a  bit  nervous  at  the  post — and  a 
shocking  bad  starter." 

Again  Blagdon  nodded,  but  on  this  occasion  without 
complacence. 

"  The  child  has  lovely  eyes — eyes  like  some  beautiful 
wild  filly,  that  is  ready  to  bolt.  She  is  as  pretty  as  a 
picture,  but  she  is  too  young  !  My  dear  man,  why 
doesn't  she  get  a  woman  who  can  do  her  hair  ?  And 
where  did  she  pick  up  those  early  Victorian  garments  ? 
She  doesn't  give  herself  half  a  chance  !  " 

Blagdon  glared  into  the  artistically  painted  face  of 
his  companion. 

"  As  you  say,  she  is  too  young,"  he  growled  savagely; 
"  give  her  time — in  twenty  years  she'll  be  up  to  all 
the  tricks  of  the  trade  !  " 

Hugo  was  secretly  furious  with  his  old  associates  ; 
they  had  not  shown  half  enough  enthusiasm  ;  with 
regard  to  his  bride,  their  congratulations  had  been 
tepid.  He  had  expected  them  to  figuratively  prostrate 
themselves,  and  worship  the  girl  he  had  delighted  to 
honour  ;  and  as  for  the  outer  world,  he  anticipated 
that  they  would  crane  their  necks,  or  even  mount  on 
chairs  (as  in  the  case  of  a  renowned  beauty)  in  order 
to  catch  sight  of  the  famous  Mrs.  Blagdon  ! 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  145 

He  stared  over  at  Letty,  seated  a  little  aloof  from 
Lola  and  Lord  Robbie, — who  had  now  been  joined  by 
two  vivacious  ladies,  and  a  man  resembling  a  brigand 
chief.  Yes,  she  certainly  was  a  bit  out  of  the  picture, 
among  these  well-dressed,  well-corseted,  animated 
women  ■  there  was  no  liqueur  glass  by  her,  no  cigarette 
between  her  lips,  her  hands  were  tightly  clasped  in  her 
lap,  and  she  looked  for  all  her  lovely  face,  forlorn  and 
badly  dressed, — the  picture  of  conscious  insignificance. 
Her  attitude,  too,  not  lounging  in  careless  ease,  but 
cramped  up,  with  her  feet  tucked  under  her  chair,  sug- 
gested a  fear  of  mice.  There  were  no  mice  in  this 
magnificent  lounge.  The  truth  he  could  divine.  Letty 
was  afraid  of  her  guests — a  pretty  condition  for  a 
hostess  ! 

Lady  Slater's  criticisms  were  not  thrown  away ;  for 
the  following  day,  the  amazed  and  indignant  Tucker 
received  her  wages  and  her  conge.  Mrs.  Corbett  had, 
for  her  part,  kindly  undertaken  to  find  a  good  French 
maid,  also  to  help  Letty  to  select  several  really  fashion- 
able hats  and  gowns. 

"  For  goodness'  sake  get  her  something  she  can  be 
seen  in,"  urged  Blagdon  ;  "  frocks  that  will  make 
all  the  neighbours  open  their  eyes — le  dernier  cri — ^and 
that  sort  of  thing,  real  smart.    Money  no  object  !  " 

As  the  atelier  of  Madame  Tart  are  was  close  to  their 
hotel,  the  two  ladies  proceeded  thither  on  foot.  They 
were  received  by  a  dignified  manservant,  and  con- 
ducted up  a  great  staircase  into  a  lofty  suite  of  rooms, 
carpeted  with  moss-green  Axminster,  and  lined  with  long 

L 


146  THE   SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

mirrors  and  presses.  After  a  moment's  delay,  Madame 
appeared,  a  middle-aged  woman  with  a  clever  face  and 
a  marvellously  fitting  gown  :  all  gracious  exclamations 
and  gestures  of  welcome,  until  she  realised  that  her 
chere  Madame  Corbett  had  come  not  in  peace,  but  in 
war  ! 

As  Letty  listened  to  her  companion's  denunciations, 
she  felt  terrified  ;  never  had  she  assisted  at  such  a 
scene,  or  beheld  anyone  make  such  an  absolute  sur- 
render to  fury.  What  a  frantic  temper,  who  could 
withstand  it  ?  How  could  anyone  cope  with  such 
violent  vituperation,  such  frenzied  threats  ?  She  felt 
half  inclined  to  creep  out  of  sight,  and  hide  herself  in 
one  of  the  great  wardrobes. 

Meanwhile  Mrs.  Corbett  figuratively  brandishing  the 
copied  gown,  raged  and  stormed  :  in  voluble  French 
she  rent  the  discomfited  dressmaker,  who  presently 
finding  spirit  and  speech,  in  ten  times  more  fluent 
language,  poured  forth  her  plausible  apologies.  The 
uproar  was  such,  that  milliners  and  mannequins 
assembled  at  a  discreet  distance,  in  order  to  hear  and 
to  see. 

"  Tiens  !  cetait  Madame  Cor — hett — quelle  femme  I  " 

After  a  time  the  battle  waned,  the  fury  of  the  cus- 
tomer abated.  She  had  gained  her  point,  the  gown  was 
to  be  taken  back  ! 

Deceitful  Tartare,  believing  Madame  had  departed 
for  England,  had  ventured  to  make  several  copies  of 
what  was  termed  "  La  Robe  Odalisque." 

When    peace    was    proclaimed,    having    recovered 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  147 

breath  and  composure,  the  victor  commanded  a  dis- 
play of  hats  and  gowns  ;  these  were  promptly  and 
politely  exhibited,  and  three  costumes  were  selected 
by  Mrs.  Corbett — whose  taste  was  for  the  flamboyant 
and  bizarre.  She  also  set  aside  several  hats  and  a  tea- 
gown  ;  and  before  Letty  could  protest,  or  interfere,  she 
found  herself  fitted  out  in  what  ecstatic  Madame  de- 
clared to  be  '  ions  ce  qu'il  y  a  de  plus  ravissante  et  plus 
chic  !  '  and  added  that  as  the  young  lady  had  '  a  stock 
figure,'  all  the  robes  would  be  ready  in  a  few  hours. 

Now  that  his  wife  was  provided  with  a  suitable  maid, 
and  smart  outfit,  Blagdon  saw  no  reason  to  postpone 
his  journey,  and  he  and  Letty  (wearing  a  most  amazing 
toque)  took  their  departure  for  London. 

As  the  train  moved  away  from  the  platform  of 
'  Le  Nord,'  Lady  Slater  turned  to  her  companion,  and 
repeated  : 

"  See  us  at  Sharsley  for  the  hunting — you  bet  he 
will !  My  dear  Lola,  you  have  made  the  poor  child  a 
figure  of  fun — that  toque  is  the  sort  of  thing  a  lunatic 
would  make — and  wear  !  " 

"  Well,  yes,  it's  a  little  outre — one  of  Tartare's 
latest,"  and  she  laughed  maliciously. 

"  I  wonder  Letty  did  not  kick  !  " 

"  Oh,  she's  only  a  child — a  simpleton !  " 

"  And  looks  pretty  in  anything — that's  the  worst  of 
her,  eh  ?  " 

"  Her  looks  are  a  matter  of  opinion,"  declared  Mrs. 
Corbett  stiffly.  "  I  can't  say  that  /  admire  chocolate- 
box  profiles  ;  and  I  can  tell  you  one  thing — though  you 


148  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

may  have  seen  it  for  yourself,  my  clever  Tatty — our 
beloved  Blag  is  deadly  sick  of  the  girl  already." 

"  Ah,  well,  poor  thing,  I  can't  help  feeling  sorry  for 
her  ;   she's  too  heavily  handicapped." 

"  Bah  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Corbett,  "  she's  out  of  her 
place  altogether.  She  ought  to  have  married  an 
evangelical  curate." 

"  Not  up  to  form,  eh  ?  "  suggested  her  ladyship, 
then  muttered,  "  and  anyway,  you  intend  to  ride  her 
off  the  course,"  and  with  this  prudently  suppressed 
opinion,  she  led  the  way  out  of  the  station. 


CHAPTER    XIV 

ON  arrival  in  London  the  newly  married  couple 
established  themselves  at  Claridge's  ;  Blagdon 
accompanied  his  wife  to  the  Opera  and  to  Hurlingham, 
gave  smart  dinners,  and  introduced  her  to  his  friends  ; 
many  of  his  mother's  connections  called  upon  her,  and 
prepared  to  entertain  them  ;  but  the  bride  suddenly  be- 
came indisposed,  was  confined  to  her  room,  and  totally 
unpresentable.  The  unfortunate  victim  had  been 
seized  upon  by  that  contemptible  ailment  known  as  the 
mumps. 

At  last  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blagdon  appeared  at  Sharsley,and 
met  with  a  flattering  reception.  There  were  speeches, 
a  deputation,  arches  in  the  village,  and  a  troop  of  the 
local  yeomanry  escorted  them  from  the  station. 
Sharsley  Court,  the  ancestral  home  of  the  Scropes 
(who  with  various  family  vicissitudes  had  lived  there 
since  the  reign  of  Henry  VHI),  was  a  noble  Tudor 
mansion,  wisely  enlarged  by  various  owners,  who  were 
proud  of  its  fame.  Sharsley  village  lay  just  outside 
its  beautiful  old  iron  gates ;  the  ancient,  irregular 
houses  collected  at  either  side  of  a  wide  street,  or  square, 
were  of  rusty  red  brick,  or  black  and  white.  A  vener- 
able inn,  furnished  with  wonderful  treasures,  attracted 
no  attention, — as  the  curio-collecting  age  had  not  yet 

149 


150  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

dawned,  and  many  valuable  bits  to  be  found  in  the 
village  and  neighbourhood  were  not  merely  neglected, 
but  actually  despised.  At  the  opposite  end,  facing  the 
gates  of  the  Court,  stood  the  church,  a  late  Norman, 
and  near  it,  sheltered  by  giant  elm  trees,  was  a  fine 
old  Jacobean  Rectory. 

Sharsley  was  four  miles  from  a  market  town,  seven 
from  a  railway,  and  in  those  pro-motor  days,  a  good 
deal  isolated  and  out  of  touch  with  the  busy  roaring 
world.  The  Court  itself  had  been  built,  as  was  the 
fashion  in  old  times,  within  a  few  hundred  yards  from 
the  entrance, — similar  to  Hatfield  and  Harwicke, — in- 
stead of  being  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  vast  park ;  but 
the  park  existed,  stretching  far  away  on  three  sides, 
and  surrounded  by  a  high  wall. 

Here  and  there  this  wall  was  broken  by  a  space 
filled  in  with  iron  railings,  in  order  to  give  the  residents 
a  more  extended  prospect,  and  envious  passers-by 
could,  if  they  so  pleased,  from  some  of  these  openings, 
enjoy  an  uninterrupted  view  of  the  mansion,  with  its 
great  terraced  front.  Later  on,  many  wayfarers  would 
pause  to  stare  at  a  small,  solitary  figure  slowly  pacing 
to  and  fro,  to  and  fro,  to  and  fro,  for  all  the  world  like 
a  wild  thing  in  a  cage.    It  was  the  young  wife. 


But  we  are  travelling  too  fast  ;  the  young  wife  has 
barety  crossed  the  threshold  of  her  new  home.  To 
her,  it  looked  almost  formidable,  so  cold  and  forbidding, 
the  great  suite  of  reception  room.s,  the  palatial  stair- 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  151 

case,  the  circle  of  silent,  impassive  servants,  all  struck 
terror  into  her  youthful  heart. 

However  it  was  midsummer,  and  the  gardens  and 
grounds — recently  put  in  order — were  at  their  best, 
the  sun  was  shining,  and  she  was  not  yet  eighteen.  By 
degrees,  the  new  mistress  found  her  way  through  her 
dominions.  She  had  an  interview  with  Mrs,  Bates,  the 
housekeeper,  gave  a  few  orders  respecting  the  arrange- 
ment of  her  own  boudoir,  unpacked  the  wedding 
presents,  the  little  odds  and  ends  they  had  collected 
abroad,  and  arranged  flowers  and  plants  with  such 
notable  success,  that  her  lord  and  master  grudgingly 
exclaimed : 

"  Well,  anyway,  there  is  one  thing  you  can  do,  Letty 
— you  can  make  a  room  look  all  right.  I  wish  you  could 
do  the  same  for  yourself.  Can't  you  get  that  woman 
to  fix  you  up  like  other  people  ?  And  for  God's  sake 
don't  let  me  ever  see  that  blue  garment  again  !  " 

The  blue  dress  was  one  of  the  trousseau  selected  by 
Mrs.  Fenchurch, — who  liked  bright  colours,  heavy 
materials,  and  lots  of  trimming. 

"  Would  you  rather  that  I  wore  white,  Hugo  ?  "  she 
asked  with  a  pale  propitiatory  smile. 

"  Oh,  well — wear  what  you  like,"  he  rejoined  im- 
patiently, "  only  don't  look  a  hideous  dowdy — and 
don't  bother  me." 

And  they  had  only  been  married  six  weeks. 

"  My  mother  is  coming  down,  and  she,"  producing 
a  letter,  "  suggests  a  family  house-party.  These 
Scropes  are  all  for  family  and  connections — such  rot ! 


152  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Here's  what  she  says — um — um — um  :  '  Give  Letty  a 
good  start.'  Ha  !  ha  !  '  My  cousin  Louisa  Calthorpe 
and  Calthorpe  ' — ^lie's  an  old  stick-in-the-mud,  and 
lives  the  other  end  of  the  County — ■'  Lord  and  Lady 
Belford  if  at  home ;  I'm  sure  they'd  go  for  a  couple 
of  nights ;  the  Bishop,  and  your  cousin  Agatha 
Mostyn.'  The  Bishop  is  as  starched  as  they  make  'em, 
and  rampant  on  divorce  and  gambling,  for  all  his 
cordial  manner.  '  Cyril  Vernon  and  Lady  Hilda.' 
He's  our  M.F.H. — not  a  bad  sort — but  the  hunt  horses 
are  a  scandal ;  he  buys  all  sorts  of  old  crocks  only  fit 
for  the  kennel.  '  Harding  Grant,  the  County  Member, 
and  his  wife.'  He's  a  dull  dog,  always  talking  of  the 
'  House.'  That's  the  lot — they  are  mostly  connections. 
How  many — ten,  eh  ?  My  mother  and  her  companion. 
Miss  Hope,  twelve.  The  house  has  forty-five  bed- 
rooms, and  we  may  as  well  fill  some  more.  I  suppose 
I  must  ask  the  Fenchurchs,  eh  ?  From  Friday  till 
Monday,  so  that  they  can't  stay  on.  By  George,  I  bar 
your  aunt  !  I'll  never  forget  her  on  the  wedding  day. 
You'd  think  she  was  going  to  be  married  herself.  The 
Calthorpe's  son,  a  naval  man,  is  at  home,  and  I  believe 
the  Bishop  has  a  daughter.  We'd  better  stick  them  in, 
and  as  for  neighbours,  the  Rectory  can  come." 

"And  your  sister  ?  "  suggested  Letty. 

"  Oh  Lord,  no  !  This  sort  of  party  would  not  be 
her  form.  Con  would  give  them  fits,  and  they 
would  bore  her  stiff  !  This  is  the  duty  lot,  that's  to 
give  you  a  start,  eh  !  Most  of  them  have  family 
prayers,   and  go  to  bed  at  ten    o'clock.    Later,    I'll 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  153 

have  my  own  pals  down,  and  they  will  keep  the 
place  lively.     My  mother's  set  are  infernally  dull." 

This  was  not  an  auspicious  preparation,  for  a 
nervous  bride,  and  her  first  house-party. 

"  Now  look  here,  don't  you  attempt  to  do  anything," 
he  continued  authoritatively  ;  "  leave  all  to  Bates, 
the  housekeeper.  She's  got  to  run  the  establishment, 
that's  her  job  and  what  she's  paid  for — she  manages 
the  servants,  and  engages  and  dismisses  them,  orders 
the  meals,  pays  the  tradespeople — so  you  have 
absolutely  nothing  to  do  but  to  sit  tight,  and  make 
yourself  agreeable." 

The  guests  duly  arrived  ;  arrangements  for  their 
reception  were  complete,  the  best  state  bedrooms  were 
open,  the  choicest  greenhouse  flowers  were  brought 
into  the  house,  the  silver  service  was  displayed,  every- 
thing was  perfectly  done,  there  was  no  hitch. 

Mrs.  Fenchurch,  brimming  over  with  importance 
and  curiosity,  embraced  her  dearest  Letty  with  well- 
assumed  effusion.  The  Dowager  Mrs.  Blagdon  merely 
gave  her  daughter-in-law  a  frozen  kiss,  and  requested 
to  be  conducted  to  her  room. 

The  company  assembled  that  night  in  the  white 
drawing-room,  was  composed  of  the  '  dull '  people, 
with  reposeful  manners,  who  knew  one  another  more 
or  less  intimately  ;  several  were  closely  related,  and 
the  women  called  one  another  by  their  Christian 
names.  There  was  no  loud,  hilarious  laughing,  no 
rouge,  no  cigarette  cases  ;  the  Dowager  Mrs.  Blagdon 
was  majestic  in  velvet  and  old  lace,  Mrs.  Fenchurch 


154  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

wore  a  hideous  green  costume,  Lady  Gaythorne,  a  too 
well-known  black  brocade.  The  most  conspicuous 
figure  on  the  occasion  was  the  hostess  ;  by  her  hus- 
band's commands  she  was  magnificent,  amazing,  in  one 
of  Tartare's  most  startling  gowns;  a  vivid  sulphur, 
shaded  to  orange,  half  veiled  in  silver  gauze,  and  here 
and  there  deepened  with  black.  It  had  the  effect  that 
Blagdon  desired  and  made  everyone  in  the  room  open 
their  eyes.  There  was  no  question  of  its  expense  and 
execution — but  it  was  theatrical.  Yes,  that  was  how 
the  guests  spoke  of  it,  '  theatrical !  ' — a  robe  more 
suitable  to  the  emancipated  wife  in  a  big  society  play, 
a  divorcee  s  robe,  in  which  to  trail  the  stage,  and  storm 
and  scoff,  and  vow  and  weep,  than  to  a  young  girl- 
bride  in  her  own  drawing-room. 

Letty  wore,  also,  the  splendid  Blagdon  diamonds, 
and  these,  that  would  have  been  proper  enough  with 
her  wedding  gown,  added  just  the  required  touch  of 
lawless  extravagance  to  her  appearance. 

Beside  the  house-party,  and  a  smart  young  Guards- 
man, there  were  three  guests  from  the  village :  the 
Reverend  Adrian  Lumley,  Frances  his  daughter  and 
Lancelot  his  son.  The  Rector  was  a  white-haired  man 
of  sixty,  handsome,  erect,  and  dignified.  For  years  he 
had  been  an  army  chaplain  in  India,  now  he  shep- 
herded a  country  flock.  He  and  Lord  Gaythorne  were 
old  Harrovians,  and  had  a  good  deal  to  say  to  one 
another  ;  the  Bishop  and  the  Dowager  Mrs.  Blagdon, 
discussed  a  London  Mission,  and  the  M.F.H.  a  May  fox. 

The  dinner  was  excellent,  and  went  off  with  great 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  155 

decorum,  but  it  was  prodigiously  dull.  There  was  a 
little  talk  of  golf,  of  a  local  engagement,  the  prospects  of 
grouse,  a  recent  by-election,  and  a  threatened  bazaar. 

Mrs.  Fenchurch  glanced  up  and  down  the  table  with 
unconcealed  pride.  The  guests  were  all  the  '  best 
people,'  no  small  fry ;  the  silver  candelabra  and  cups 
were  superb,  the  flowers  exquisite,  the  menu  every- 
thing a  menu  should  be.  Round  about  her,  waited 
many  silent  and  efficient  servants,  and  there  at  the 
head  of  the  table  in  gorgeous  apparel,  and  blazing 
jewels,  sat  little  Letty,  her  niece  by  marriage. 

This  dazzling  vision  established  the  lady  more  firmly 
than  ever  in  the  belief  in  her  own  infallibility  ;  for 
this  position,  and  all  her  other  mercies,  Letty  had  to 
thank  her ;  and  she  drank  off  a  glass  of  champagne  to 
her  own  good  health. 

It  struck  young  Lumley  that  the  bride,  for  all  her 
magnificence,  did  not  appear  to  be  in  particularly 
radiant  spirits — that  from,  time  to  time  she  cast 
timid  and  deprecating  glances  towards  the  master 
of  the  house  ;  her  smiles  were  rare,  and  her  face 
wore  a  curious  bhghted  look,  and  had  lost  something 
of  the  round,  fresh  touch  of  happy  youth. 

She  talked,  yet  appeared  afraid  to  utter  a  word  ; 
once  he  had  intercepted  a  scowl  that  Mr.  Blagdon  had 
cast  at  the  lower  end  of  the  table,  and  during  a  pause 
he  had  called  out  in  a  harsh,  dominating  voice  : 

"  I  say,  what  a  noise  you  are  all  making  down  there. 
What  a  jovial,  merry  party  !  I'm  glad  my  wife  is  so 
amusin'." 


156  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

His  wife  became  pink,  and  then  in  halting  sentences, 
began  to  tell  Lord  Gaythorne  and  the  Bishop,  her 
immediate  neighbom-s,  some  little  tales  respecting 
their  recent  excursions  and  experiences.  Having 
secured  the  attention  of  the  company,  and  during  a 
dead  silence,  in  her  clear,  girlish  voice,  she  proceeded 
to  relate  how  they  had  made  a  delightful  trip  with  Sir 
Algy  and  Lady  Vickery,  and  had  all  dined  together 
at  an  old  inn  in  the  mountains  and  driven  back  by 
moonlight.  This  story  was  listened  to  in  horrified 
amazement,  as  it  was  a  well  known  fact  that  Sir  Algy 
Vickery  was  not  a  married  man.  Kind  Lady  Gay- 
thorne burst  in  upon  the  pause,  with  jerky  recollections 
of  her  own  honeymoon, — now  a  matter  of  somewhat 
ancient  history, — but  once  again  the  little  bride, 
anxiously  striving  to  entertain,  brought  forward  in 
all  innocence,  one  of  the  stories  which  she  had  heard  in 
Paris.  The  unhappy  girl  had  not  the  remotest  idea 
that  she  was  retailing  a  hideously  improper  double 
entendre  (a  recent  succes  of  the  Boulevards).  She  only 
remembered  that  when  told  by  Lady  Slater  it  had  been 
received — why  she  could  not  say — with  yells  of  laughter 
and  applause.  When  she  concluded,  there  ensued  a  grim 
and  petrifying  silence.  To  the  ladies,  the  tale  was 
cryptic  ;  to  most  of  the  men  it  was  as  if  a  bomb  had 
exploded  on  the  mahogany !  Lord  Gaythorne  gasped, 
the  Master  of  Hounds  choked  convulsively  in  his 
serviette.  As  for  the  Bishop,  he  had  been  changed  into 
an  image  of  stone.  The  guests  stared  blankly  at  their 
girlish  hostess,  dressed  in  the  most  outre  French  style. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  157 

and  calmly  relating  the  Frenchiest  of  stories  1  But  she 
turned  on  them  a  face  of  beautiful,  child-like  innocence, 
and  actually  seemed  to  appeal  for  their  approval, 
and  applause. 

This  pitiful  incident  had  far-reaching  results.  By 
gradual  degrees,  the  intelligence  filtered  through  the 
County,  that  Blagdon's  pretty  young  wife  was  a  simple- 
ton— just  one  degree  removed  from  a  mere  imbecile. 
What  a  pity  !  Unconscious  of  her  enormity,  the  bride 
made  a  timid  sign  to  Lady  Gaythorne,  and  rose  from 
her  place.  She  was  presently  made  aware  that  her 
first  dinner-party  had  been  a  failure,  for  as  her  hus- 
band held  the  door  open  for  the  ladies  to  pass  forth, 
the  glance  he  threw  at  her,  was  charged  with  fury. 


CHAPTER    XV 

ONCE  in  the  vast  drawing-room,  most  of  the  ladies 
scattered  about  or  assembled  in  congenial  groups. 
Mrs.  Fenchurch  wandered  round,  eyeglass  in  hand, 
examining  the  miniatures  and  old  china,  with  the 
air  of  a  connoisseur,  and  possible  purchaser !  Lady 
Gaythorne  and  Lady  Belford  conferred  together  over 
the  character  of  a  housekeeper,  the  Bishop's  helpmate 
whispered  of  family  troubles  to  her  cousin,  the  wife 
of  the  County  Member,  and  Frances  Lumley  and  the 
girl  hostess  made  advances  to  one  another ;  they 
were  likely  to  be  friends  as  well  as  neighbours,  and 
Letty  felt  drawn  to  this  charming,  light-hearted 
girl,  who,  although  unmarried  at  the  great  age  of 
twenty-six,  had  evidently  far  more  experience  and 
decision  than  herself. 

Meanwhile  the  rheumatic  dowager,  enthroned  on  a 
sofa,  presented  a  picture  of  frozen  dignity  ;  to  her  the 
coffee  had  tasted  as  gall  and  wormwood,  her  mind 
being  embittered  by  the  outrageous  behaviour  of  Mrs. 
Fenchurch,  who  was  playing  the  part  of  hostess  with 
considerable  effect.  Positively  her  attitude  was  that 
of  triumphant  hospitality ! 

Numerous  good  works,  and  far-reaching  activities, 
had  brought  Mrs.  Fen  into  contact  with  many  of  the 

158 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  159 

*  best  people.'  An  alert  woman  of  the  world,  she  had 
interests  in  common  with  most  of  the  matrons  present ; 
she  exchanged  a  word  or  two  with  Mrs.  Mostyn,  the 
Bishop's  wife,  respecting  a  certain  charity  ;  then  she 
flitted  over  to  the  Master's  lady  to  enquire  about  the 
new  Kennels,  told  Lady  Belford  of  a  marvellous  cure 
for  Flue,  and  assured  Lady  Gaythorne  that  she  could 
give  her  two  tickets  for  the  Idiots'  Home. 

"  She  had  much  better  keep  one  for  her  niece  !  " 
muttered  Lady  Belford,  who  had  three  unmarried 
daughters,  and  a  sharp  tongue. 

In  short,  Mrs.  Fenchurch  was,  so  to  speak,  the  pre- 
siding personality,  the  chairwoman  of  this  drawing- 
room  meeting  ;  whilst  the  mistress  of  the  house  sat 
in  a  corner  talking  eagerly  to  the  girl  from  the  Rectory. 

From  the  sofa,  the  Dowager's  soul  went  forth  in  arms. 
How  dared  this  pushing,  notoriously  managing 
woman,  ignore  and  eclipse  two  Mrs.  Blagdons  under 
their  own  roof — the  home  of  her  ancestors  ?  There  she 
was,  actually  exhibiting,  and  with  pride,  the  Scrope 
Nankin  Vases,  that  had  been  in  the  family  for  centuries, 
and  drawing  Lady  Calthorpe's  special  attention  to  a 
Cosway  miniature  of  Angelina  Scrope,  her  own  grand- 
mother. Oh,  it  was  insufferable  !  Such  manners  should 
be  dealt  with  by  the  penal  laws. 

Presently  Mrs.  Fen,  in  blissful  ignorance  of  these 
smouldering  fires,  sailed  across  the  room  and  sat  down 
on  the  sofa  in  order  to  pay  a  little  attention  to  old  Mrs. 
Blagdon,  "  who  seemed  rather  out  of  it  "  ;  but  her 
polite  advances  were  not  welcomed.     The  Dowager 


160  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

declined  to  go  into  raptures  over  Jade,  and  pictures, 
to  enlarge  on  objects  familiar  to  Caroline  Scrope  since 
she  could  toddle  ;  treasures  which  had  been  her  own 
exclusive  possessions  for  many  years. 

"  Oh  yes,"  she  assented  icily,  "  no  doubt  these 
things  in  our  collection  impress  an  outsider.  I  was 
amused  in  watching  you,  as  you  went  round  exhibiting 
her  relatives  to  Lady  Calthorpe,  who,  however,  has 
been  here  hundreds  of  times — and  I  could  not  help 
thinking  what  a  capital  person  you  would  be  as  show- 
woman,  in  some  historical  house,  such  as  Knole  or 
Penshurst  !  " 

This  was  a  nasty  speech,  and  entirely  beneath  the 
dignity  of  a  Scrope  ;  but  the  old  lady  was  on  fire  ; 
she  was  particularly  sensitive  with  respect  to  Sharsley, 
— every  bush  and  tree,  every  old  book,  and  chair  of 
which,  were  sacred  to  her ;  and  to  behold  an  absolute 
stranger,  vaunting  its  treasures  and  doing  the  honours, 
was  an  exasperating  and  distracting  experience. 

Presently,  she  and  her  companion  were  engaged  in  a 
lady-like  sparring  match ;  and  (the  shameful  confession 
must  be  made)  occasionally  dealt  one  another  what  is 
known  as  'blows  below  the  belt.'  The  Dowager,  con- 
veyed by  looks  and  implication,  more  than  actual 
speech,  that  her  opponent  had  been  undeservedly 
fortunate  in  placing  her  penniless  niece  in  what  had 
once  been  her  own  shoes  !  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  her  blue 
blood  boiling  in  her  veins,  had  no  hesitation  in  con- 
veying to  the  Dowager,  that  she  considered  that  her 
son  was  exceptionally  favoured  in  marrying  a  girl  who 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  161 

had  well-born  relations  on  both  sides — and  here  she 
distinctly  scored. 

The  attitude  of  these  two  matrons  did  not  tend  to 
promote  conviviality ;  there  was  a  vague  impression 
of  outstretched  claws  and  flying  fur,  and  the  long- 
looked-for  entrance  of  the  men  effected  a  happy  diver- 
sion. The  grand  piano  stood  open,  and  the  word 
'  music  '  was  breathed  by  someone — possibly  Mrs. 
Fenchurch. 

•  "  Come  along,  Letty,  and  let  us  have  some  of  your 
parlour  tricks,"  said  her  husband,  to  whom  a  generous 
quantity  of  generous  wine,  had  brought  a  certain 
amount  of  suavity. 

The  bride,  silent  and  pale,  rose  immediately  and 
went  to  the  instrument,  and  although  her  voice  and 
fingers  seemed  a  little  tremulous,  gained  confidence 
as  soon  as  her  uncle  came  and  stood  beside  her.  Her 
singing  was  voted  delightful,  and  made  a  remarkable 
impression  ;  the  Rector's  thoughts  flew  to  his  choir  ; 
Lady  Calthorpe's  to  a  charity  concert.  The  voice  was 
so  fresh,  so  sweet,  so  flexible,  and  well  trained  ;  but  to 
Lumley,  mechanically  turning  over  the  leaves  of  an 
album,  it  was  something  more — to  him  it  seemed  to 
carry  a  note  of  hopelessness  and  despair. 

Meanwhile  Blagdon  lay  back  in  an  arm-chair  with 
one  solid  leg  crossed  over  the  other,  and  an  expression 
on  his  flushed  face  which  seemed  to  say  : 

"  That's  my  property — my  musical-box  !  " 

Young  Limiley  could  hardly  restrain  his  fury  ;  he 
felt  a  savage   inclination,  to  rise  and  kick  the  com- 


162  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

placent  host,  round  his  own  drawing-room.  Several 
ladies  succeeded  one  another  at  the  piano,  and  Miss 
Lumley  gave  a  notable  performance  of  Grieg  and 
Chopin,  during  which,  general  conversation  waxed 
both  loud  and  animated. 

By  and  by  card-tables  were  produced,  and  people 
sat  down  to  the  good  old  game  of  whist.  Mrs.  Fen- 
church,  who  was  not  a  card-player,  came  over  and 
seated  herself  beside  her  niece,  armed  with  many 
sharp  questions. 

"  Now  tell  me,  dear,"  she  began,  "  how  do  you  like 
your  housekeeper  ?  I  suppose  she  has  been  here  for 
years  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  believe  so." 

"  And  manages  everything  ?  "  she  demanded. 

"Yes,  Aunt  Dorothy." 

"  Well,  mind  you  don't  let  her  manage  youy  she 
urged  with  dictatorial  emphasis.  "Take  everything 
into  your  own  hands.  Of  course,  you  have  gone 
over  the  silver  ?  " 

"  No,  not  yet." 

"  Oh,  my  dear  !    Nor  the  house-linen  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  But,  dearest  child,  you  mustn't  get  into  slack 
ways,  but  begin  as  you  intend  to  go  on.  Oh,  by  the 
way,  Tucker  came  to  me  so  injured,  and  affronted. 
Wliy  did  you  dismiss  her  ?  " 

"Because  Hugo  didn't  think  she  was  a  good 
maid." 

"  Good  gracious — what  can  he  know  about  it  ?  " 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  163 

"  He  knows  a  good  deal,  and  is  very  particular.  He 
can't  bear  some  of  my  trousseau  dresses." 

(She  might  have  added,  that  he  had  told  her  to  burn 
them  !) 

"  Oh,  my  dear,  what  rubbish !  You  know,  I  got  them 
at  Stile's,  where  my  mother  bought  mine — everything 
they  have  is  always  of  the  very  best.  Look  at  this," 
indicating  her  own  hideous  garment.  "  H  you  begin  by 
allowing  Hugo  to  dismiss  your  maid,  and  worry  about 
your  dresses,  I'm  sure  I  don't  know  where  you  will 
end!  You  really  m^sHearn  to  assert  yourself."  Then 
she  went  on  to  enquire  about  the  neighbours,  and  who 
Letty  had  seen  in  London  ?  and  who  had  called  ?  and 
who  hadn't  called  ?  and  many  other  tiresome  questions. 

Letty's  pleasantest  moments  were  snatched  with 
her  uncle.  Li  his  company,  her  depressed  spirits 
seemed  to  bubble  up  to  the  surface,  and  she  actually 
laughed.  Her  husband,  who  was  playing  whist,  paused 
to  stare  at  her  ;  it  was  such  an  unusual  occurrence, 
and  her  laugh  sounded  so  merry  and  girlish.  She  never 
laughed  like  that  when  she  was  with  him  ! 

Before  Mrs.  Fenchurch  concluded  her  visit,  she  had 
taken  certain  observations  ;  perhaps,  after  all,  like 
the  princess  with  a  pea  in  the  feather  bed,  little  Letty 
had  some  drawbacks  in  her  fine  home — an  odious, 
arrogant,  formidable  mother-in-law,  cold  as  ice  ;  and 
a  selfish,  egotistical,  self-indulgent  husband,  who 
snubbed  her  already — yes,  and  openly  ! 

"  I  must  give  you  just  one  little  word,  dearest 
Letty,"  she  whispered  to  her,  before  they  separated. 


164  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

"  I  want  you  to  assert  yourself,  and  talk,  and  offer 
your  opinion,  and  take  your  proper  place  as  the  mis- 
tress of  this  splendid  establishment.  \^niy,  my  dear 
child,  you  look  every  moment  as  if  you  were  a  naughty 
little  girl  who  expected  to  be  put  in  the  corner." 

"  I  have  only  been  here  two  weeks,"  stammered  the 
poor  bride  ;  "  and  of  course  I  am  not  accustomed  to 
all  this  grandeur  yet.  I  shall  get  on  all  right  by 
and  by." 

But  Mrs.  Fenchurch  had  her  doubts.  How  the 
agreeable,  genial  Blagdon  seemed  to  have  altered  ! 
He  now  treated  her  with  marked  coolness,  rarely  ad- 
dressed her,  and  when  she  praised  Letty,  received  her 
encomiums  in  gloomy  silence.  After  all,  he  might 
prove  a  most  unsatisfactory  husband — he  looked  ill- 
tempered. 

Mrs.  Blagdon,  for  her  part,  had  a  few  words  to  say 
to  her  son  before  she  flitted  south. 

"  Hugo,  I  hope  you  and  Letty  will  pull  well  to- 
gether," to  which  he  merely  grunted  a  reply.  "  You 
must  make  allowances  for  her.  I  think  she  is  trying 
hard  to  please  you.  She  is  a  simple  little  thing — and 
so  young — not  yet  full  grown — and  her  mind  only 
half  developed." 

"  Half  baked,  you  mean  !  "  he  corrected  angrily. 

"  No,  no ;  she  has  plenty  of  brains.  Wliat  she  wants, 
is  worldly  wisdom  ;  her  French  is  perfect,  and  her 
singing  and  pla^dng  astonishing  for  her  age." 

"  Just  school  accomplishments  !  " 

"  The  others  will  come  ;   but  Letty  really  won't  be 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  165 

tit  to  be  mistress  of  this  great  place,  to  look  the  part, 
and  to  hold  her  own,  for  a  couple  of  years." 

"  If  ever  !  " 

"  Now,  suppose  you  were  to  close  Sharsley  for  a 
little,  and  travel,  and  let  her  see  the  world,  and  mix 
in  society  ?  " 

"  No,  thank  you,"  he  rejoined  with  laboured  em- 
phasis. "  I've  had  enough  of  travel  with  Lctty.  She 
is  all  for  sights  and  sunsets,  and  hideous  old  pictures 
and  damp  churches.  She  has  no  fun  or  go,  no  what 
you  call  joie  de  vivrc.  As  for  mixing  in  society,  she 
is  a  fish  out  of  water,  and  without  tact  or  sense.  Why 
you  yourself  heard  the  story  she  related  at  dinner, — 
one  of  Lady  Slater's  worst — and  that  without  turning 
a  hair  !  " 

"  It  showed  the  poor  child's  innocence,"  rejoined 
his  mother,  "  and  the  sort  of  people  with  whom  you 
allowed  her  to  associate." 

"Any  way — it  will  be  talked  of  for  the  next  ten  years ! 
and  I'll  tell  you  what,  mum,"  he  added,  nodding  his 
head  and  looking  down  at  her  with  his  hard,  sullen 
eyes.     "  I  find  I've  made  a  most  infernal  mistake  !  " 

"  Well,  Hugo,  remember  that  I  warned  you  ;  the 
wife  to  have  suited  you,  would  have  been  a  smart  young 
widow,  who  knew  her  way  about,  who  was  clever  and 
ambitious,  and  could  hold  her  own.  I  must  confess  I 
am  sorry  for  Letty  !  " 

"  Bah !  she's  just  a  little  shivering  idiot." 

"  I  expect  her  aunt  drove  her  into  the  marriage. 
Oh,  Hugo,  what  an  awful  woman  ;  so  thrusting,  manag- 


166  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

ing,  and  overbearing.  For  all  her  good  birth,  and  being 
first  cousin  to  the  Marquis  of  Camberwell,  she  is  not  a 
lady."  She  had  not  forgotten  their  passage-at-arms, 
and  repeated  with  conviction,  "  No,  she  is  not  !  " 

"  But  a  regular  old  campaigner  !  I  believe  poor 
Fenchurch  can't  call  his  soul  his  own.  She'd  sell  the 
hunters  under  him  without  winking,  and  allows  him  a 
shilling  a  week  for  baccy.  I  won't  have  her  over  here 
prying  and  picking.  I'm  not  a  mean  chap,  nor  stingy, 
but  when  I  put  her  in  the  brougham,  I  saw  that  she  had 
a  hamper  of  plants  from  the  hothouse,  the  best  of  the 
spaniel  pups,  and  a  china  jar.  She  told  me,  with  a 
grin,  she  begged  it  of  dearest  Letty,  who  had  two. 
She  won't  come  here  again,  I  bet  a  thousand  pounds  !  " 

But  an  experienced  acquaintance  would  have  backed 
Mrs.  Fenchurch, — and  won ! 


CHAPTER    XVI 

SHARSLEY,  its  spreading  park,  and  somewhat 
neglected  gardens,  had  been  partly  closed  for 
years  ;  the  owner  merely  visiting  it  spasmodically, 
with  lively  parties  for  shooting  or  hunting.  The 
situation  was  isolated  with  regard  to  other  seats :  it 
being  the  one  great  house  of  a  poor  and  insignificant 
neighbourhood.  When  Blagdon  married,  people  hoped 
that  a  new  era  was  about  to  dawn  ;  a  pretty  girl  of 
good  family  would  be  warmly  welcomed  as  the  social 
queen,  and  the  immediate  residents  hastened  to  wait 
upon  the  bride. 

First,  came  those  known  as  '  the  small  fry  '  or  the 
village  ;  these  included  the  two  Miss  Jessops — maiden 
ladies  of  gentle  birth,  churchy,  poor,  and  kindly ; 
Captain  and  Mrs.  Howard,  retired  Army  people, 
agreeable  and  middle-aged — who  had  seen  the  world  ; 
Mr.  Byng,  an  Indian  Civilian  and  keen  politician,  with 
two  pretty  daughters  who  bicycled  after  the  hounds 
and  kept  prize  poultry,  and  others  of  the  same  stand- 
ing. But  these  were  not  the  class  of  visitors  that 
Blagdon  desired  to  entertain,  and  his  rudeness  was 
insufferable  and  undisguised. 

When  the  Jessops,  in  their  best  bonnets,  arrived  to 
make  a  first  and  formal  call,  and  were  ceremoniously 

167 


168  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

conducted  into  the  grounds,  where  tea  was  laid  in 
the  shade,  the  instant  Blagdon  beheld  these  ladies 
approaching,  he  sprang  to  his  feet  and  hastily  departed 
in  the  opposite  direction.  Truly  this  was  a  bad 
moment  for  the  bride  !  However,  with  many  blushes 
and  in  halting  sentences,  she  assured  the  Misses  Jessop 
that  her  husband  had  suddenly  remembered  an  im- 
portant engagement ;  but  Letty  was  a  very  poor  liar, 
and  her  embarrassment,  and  her  explanations,  merely 
aggravated  the  situation. 

With  a  lofty  air  the  ladies  declined  tea.  Blagdon's 
snub  had  been  too  gross,  and  what,  after  all,  was  he  ? 
The  grandson  of  a  collier,  and  they  the  granddaughters 
of  an  Archbishop  !  They  were  sorry  for  the  poor 
child,  his  wife,  talked  to  her  condescendingly  of  flowers 
and  the  weather,  and  presently  effected  a  stately 
departure. 

When  Captain  Howard  drove  up  with  his  wife  to 
make  their  first  call  at  Sharsley,  the  windows  being  open, 
they  heard  a  beautiful  soprano  singing  '  Love  Not.' 

"  Ah,  she's  in,"  said  Mrs.  Howard.    "  I'm  so  glad !  " 

But  an  impassive  footman  who  received  their  cards 
uttered  a  sonorous  and  decisive  '  Not  at  home,'  and 
they  drove  away,  deeply  mortified — the  fate  of  many. 

Later,  as  Blagdon  stood  turning  over  the  card-tray 
one  afternoon,  Letty  adventured  a  timid  expostulation. 

"  Now  look  here,"  he  said  impatiently,  "  I'm  not 
going  to  have  gossiping  women,  and  sponging  old  men, 
running  in  and  out  of  this  house,  sniffing  about  for 
what  they  can  get — amusement,  shootin',  and  good 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  169 

dinners.  I  have  my  own  friends,  and  I  don't  want 
their  society.  You  can  just  send  round  your  cards 
by  a  footman, — and  let  that  end  it.  Of  course,  the 
County  is  another  affair,"  still  examining  the  cards 
as  he  spoke.  "  Viscount  and  Viscountess  Lyndham, 
Sir  Cosmo  and  Lady  Alice  Danvers — yes,  these  sort  of 
people  are  all  right.  By  the  way,  I  see  the  Duchess 
hasn't  honoured  you  yet — she's  taking  her  time. 
The  old  girl  wanted  to  saddle  me  with  one  of  her  ugly 
daughters,  so  she  won't  be  very  keen  upon  you,  Mrs. 
Blagdon  !  " 

The  expected  '  County  '  now  came  day  after  day 
rolling  up  the  Avenue  to  visit  Sharsley  ;  and  the  shy 
bride,  seated  alone  in  a  magnificent  new  landau,  drove 
about  the  country,  returning  calls,  and  inwardly  pray- 
ing that  her  hostesses  might  be  out  !  being  secretly 
afraid  of  the  solid,  important  matrons,  among  whom 
she  now  took  rank  —  as  Mrs.  Blagdon  of  Sharsley. 
She  noted  the  merry  bicyclists  who  sped  by  in  couples, 
the  happy  good-looking  pair,  evidently  lately  married, 
driving  in  a  high  tax-cart,  he  with  his  arm  round  the 
girl's  waist,  their  faces  radiant  with  smiles, — a  sheep 
their  fellow-passenger. 

They  stared  with  wide-eyed  admiration  at  the 
lovely  young  lady  in  a  beautiful  dress,  sitting  so  erect 
behind  a  pair  of  slashing  steppers, — and  little  dreamt 
how  she  envied  them ! 

Her  husband  made  no  secret  of  his  disgust,  and 
disillusion  ;  scenes  were  frequent — when  he  scolded, 
blustered,  and  stormed,  she  wept ;  when  they  were 


170  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

alone,  conversation  was  nil ;  to  her  timid  questions, 
the  answers  were  generally  a  grunt ;  and  the  miserable 
girl  began  to  feel  that  her  youth  was  paralysed  and 
petrified.  Often  and  often,  she  wished  herself  back 
once  more  in  the  little  top-room  at  The  Holt — could 
more  be  said  ?  There,  she  was  partly  free  ;  here,  she 
was  an  abject  slave ;  and  at  the  beck  and  call  of  a 
man  whom  she  heartily  feared. 

The  newly  married  couple,  were  invited  to  formal 
dinners  or  to  dine,  and  sleep,  at  various  important 
places,  and  the  general  verdict  on  the  bride  was,  that 
she  was  a  pretty  nonentity,  dull  as  a  kitchen-garden 
on  a  winter's  day,  who  looked  positively  ashamed  of 
her  French  gowns  and  her  superb  diamonds  ;  and  it 
was  no  love  match. 

Hugo  contradicted  his  wife  flatly  ;  he  had  been 
overheard  to  assure  her  that  her  hat  was  hideous,  and 
she — worse  still — "  was  a  wooden-headed  little  fool." 

Part  of  August  and  September  found  the  Blagdons 
in  Scotland  ;  by  the  time  they  had  returned  home, 
they  had  drifted  almost  entirely  apart. 

It  was  true,  that  Blagdon  had  his  own  friends  and 
was  superbly  independent  of  his  neighbours ;  numerous 
guests  came  from  London  for  pheasant-shooting  and 
hunting,  at  Sharsley  they  were  all  thoroughly  at 
home — indeed,  considerably  more  so  than  the  hostess 
herself !  Lady  Rashleigh,  had  her  particular  bed- 
room—  this  was  natural  —  but  why  Mrs.  Corbett 
should  claim,  and  occupy,  the  best  of  all  the  state 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  171 

apartments  was  another  affair.  Sir  Tom  and  Lady 
Slater,  Lord  Robbie  and  the  Baron,  and  a  Colonel 
Shaddock,  who  knew  everyone,  went  everywhere, 
and  was  a  notorious  gossip  and  an  irresistible  horse- 
dealer,  and  various  others.  There  was  no  doubt,  that 
the  party  stirred  up  sleepy  old  Sharsley,  and  made  it 
lively,  with  early  starts  for  cubbing,  and  late  hours 
for  nap  and  poker  ;  the  guests  were  well  acquainted 
with  the  resources  of  the  stable  and  the  cellar,  the 
best  stands  in  the  woods  and  coverts,  even  wise  and 
self-seeking  with  respect  to  the  most  comfortable  chairs, 
and  told  the  bride  many  things  about  her  home  that 
she  now  learnt  for  the  first  time. 

The  new  mistress  made  a  rather  scared  and  silent 
hostess ;  indeed,  she  was  a  mere  figure-head  and 
nonentity.  Lady  Rashleigh  and  Lola  Corbett  rode 
Hugo's  best  horses,  smoked  his  best  cigarettes,  lounged 
about  on  sofas,  issued  orders,  and  did  what  seemed 
good  in  their  own  eyes. 

The  great  rooms  rang  with  loud  voices,  and  boisterous 
laughter,  and  the  company  talked  incessantly  of 
horses,  racing,  and  scandal.  Several  of  the  party  had 
brought  their  hunters ;  others  were  mounted  by  their 
host.  Mrs.  Corbett,  who  for  all  her  langourous  grace, 
rode  admirably  ;  she  had  nerves  and  muscles  of  iron — ■ 
no  day  too  long  for  her,  provided  she  had  a  second  horse. 
Lady  Rashleigh  rode  a  solid  fourteen  stone,  and  gave 
sore  backs  to  some  of  her  brother's  weight-carriers  ; 
whilst  Lady  Slater  came  out  on  wheels,  and  made  no 
secret  of  the  fact  that  she  funked  riding. 


172  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

Letty,  in  a  smart  habit  and  mounted  on  a  quiet  cob, 
looked  well  in  the  saddle  ;  nevertheless  at  the  meets 
she  was  left  a  good  deal  to  herself;  as  she  was  not 
acquainted  with  the  hard-riding  set,  the  intimates 
of  her  husband,  and  his  friends,  and  the  neighbours 
on  horseback,  or  in  governess  cars,  stared  over  her 
head  with  glassy  eyes.  Her  husband's  '  ukase  '  had 
placed  her  in  the  middle  of  a  social  desert, — where  her 
only  associates  were  the  Lumley  family.  Lancelot 
Lumley  was  home  on  leave,  and  when  he  was  out — 
about  once  a  week — Mrs.  Blagdon  had  someone  to 
ride  with  and  talk  to.  Her  husband's  sporting  friends, 
granted  her  pretty  face  and  frightened-looking  blue 
eyes  ;  but,  as  one  of  them  declared,  "  She  could  not 
say  boo  to  a  gosling !  " 

In  some  ways,  Letty  enjoyed  the  hunting  :  the 
eager  crowd  of  yokels  at  the  meets,  the  splendid 
horses,  the  odd  turns-out,  and  the  general  spirit  of 
camaraderie  and  enjoyment.  It  was  not  bad  fun 
galloping  along  grassy  lanes,  darting  through  con- 
venient open  gates,  now  and  then  getting  over  a  small 
fence,  and  feeling  absurdly  proud  and  brave  !  Her 
prowess  and  improvement  were  remarked,  and  Lady 
Rashleigh  said  one  day  at  dinner  : 

"  Look  here,  Letty,  we  must  promote  you,  especially 
as  the  cob  is  lame — he  has  a  seedy  toe.  We  cannot 
any  longer  allow  you  to  go  skirmishing  about  the 
roads,  trying  to  see  all  you  can, — and  save  your  neck! 
You  are  to  ride  The  Goat ;  he  will  carry  you  splendidly. 
I  rode  him  last  season." 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  173 

"  The  Goat,  would  be  too  much  for  you,  Mrs.  Blag," 
volunteered  Lord  Robbie.  "  Take  my  tip,  and  don't 
you  ride  him  ;   he  has  only  one  side  to  his  mouth." 

"  Shut  up,  Robbie  !  "  said  Lady  Rashleigh.  "  Letty 
can  stick  on  all  right,  she's  got  to  learn.  We  shall  see 
her  in  the  first  flight  yet.  By  the  way,  what  happened 
to  you  in  the  second  run  ?  I  saw  old  Sarsfield  pirouett- 
ing on  his  head  !  " 

"  Only  a  rabbit  hole  ;  we  both  bit  the  earth — 
no  harm  done.  If  the  cob  is  lame,  Sarsfield  would  be 
a  safe  conveyance  for  Mrs.  Blag  much  steadier  than 
The  Goat." 

Nevertheless  it  was  The  Goat,  a  raking  chestnut  i6'2 
in  hard  condition,  who  proved  to  be  Letty 's  fate ;  in 
spite  of  her  piteous,  even  agonised,  protestations.  Her 
husband,  accustomed  to  such  hard-riding  women  as  his 
sister  and  friends,  could  not  understand  her  nervous- 
ness ;  he  set  it  down  to  affectation,  assured  her  that 
"  The  Goat  was  as  quiet  as  a  lamb.  All  he  wanted 
was  to  go;  all  she  had  to  do,  was  to  sit  tight." 

Mounted  on  this  tall,  headstrong  animal,  a  first-class 
hunter  and  mount  for  a  muscular  and  resolute  man, 
Letty  looked  as  she  felt,  abjectly  miserable, — whilst 
her  sister-in-law  and  Lola,  unkindly  derided  her  fears. 
The  Goat  was  so  different  to  the  nice,  sedate,  well-man- 
nered cob  ;  he  fretted  and  shied,  threw  his  head  about, 
dragging  the  reins  through  her  cold,  stiff  fingers ;  and 
became  frightfully  excited  when  the  hounds,  and  the 
whips,  streamed  pleasantly  through  the  village  street ; 
her    futile    efforts    to   quiet   him   were    ridiculed    by 


174  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

Blagdon,  who  audibly  called  her  "a  chicken-hearted 
little  fool."  All  she  had  to  do  was  to  let  the  brute 
alone ;  he  couldn't  give  her  a  fall  if  he  tried  ! 

As  the  mass  of  riders  and  drivers  jogged  off  in  the 
wake  of  the  hounds,  Lumley,  filled  with  burning  in- 
dignation and  compassion,  joined  the  white-faced 
victim.  To  mount  a  nervous,  inexperienced  girl  on 
this  hard-mouthed,  powerful  brute,  was,  in  his  opinion, 
not  far  from  a  bold  attempt  at  murder. 

He,  however,  gave  her  confidence,  and  encourage- 
ment, and  when  the  hounds  were  put  into  cover,  piloted 
her  away  down  a  by-road,  where  he  dismounted,  and 
altered  The  Goat's  bit.  Lumley  was  at  home  in  this 
part  of  the  world,  he  knew  every  fence  and  field  like 
his  ABC,  and  by  merely  sticking  to  roads  and  gates 
Letty  and  her  escort,  got  over  a  respectable  amount 
of  the  country,  and  actually  made  their  appearance 
soon  after  the  fox  (a  well-known  veteran)  was  run  to 
ground  in  a  quarry  pit. 

Blagdon  and  his  friends  hailed  the  lady's  arrival, 
with  boisterous  shouts,  and,  after  some  hesitation 
and  an  anxious  five  minutes,  her  husband  assented  to 
her  timid  suggestion,  '  that  now  she  might  go  home.' 

Unfortunately  Lumley  did  not  happen  to  be  out  on 
the  memorable  day  when  Mrs.  Blagdon  was  over- 
powered by  her  mount,  and  The  Goat,  after  plunging 
and  rearing, — frantic  at  being  held  in,  and  stimulated 
by  galloping  horses,  let  himself  go, — and,  with  a  light 
weight  on  his  back,  carried  his  reluctant  rider  in  the  very 
first  flight,  for  two  triumphant  miles.    It  was  true  she 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  175 

was  frozen  with  fear,  her  heart  thumped  hke  a  turbine 
engine ;  but  she  passed  Connie  Rashleigh  as  an  arrow 
from  a  bow,  and  cut  down  the  Baron  and  the  redoubt- 
able Lola.  Such  was  The  Goat's  enthusiasm,  such  his 
passion  for  the  chase,  that  he  followed  hard  upon  the 
hounds  ;  vainly  did  the  huntsman  yell  and  swear,  the 
lady  was  helpless — this  was  The  Goat's  day  out  !  It 
was  also  his  last  day.  In  negotiating  a  yawning  fence 
(wired)  he  came  down  badly,  and  a  thrill  went  through 
the  spectators — Mrs.  Blagdon  was  done  for — she  was 
killed  !  No,  The  Goat  had  broken  his  back,  but  the 
lady  escaped  with  a  fractured  arm,  and  some  bad 
bruises.  Presently  a  carriage  and  a  gun  were  borrowed, 
the  former  for  the  lady ;  and  she  was  taken  home  by 
her  husband,  who,  far  from  being  concerned  and 
sympathetic,  was  furious  at  the  loss  of  a  valuable 
hunter,  and  angrily  assured  her  that  "  she  was  a  little 
idiot  to  let  the  brute  get  away  with  her.  Why,  Connie 
could  ride  him  on  a  thread  !  " 

Letty  was  a  good  deal  shaken,  her  fracture  was  ex- 
cessively painful,  and  the  doctor  ordered  her  to  keep  her 
room  for  at  least  a  fortnight,  which  command  she  was 
only  too  thankful  to  obey.  Her  nerves  were  completely 
shattered  ;  she  was  visited  by  horrid  dreams ;  dreams 
of  flying  over  great  ragged  brown  hedges,  with  the 
wind  whistling  past  her  ears,  a  fierce,  implacable 
demon  pulhng  her  arms  out  of  their  sockets,  whilst 
she  and  the  runaway  were  pursued  by  frenzied  shouts. 

During  these  days  of  seclusion,  the  invalid  saw  but 
little  of  her  guests — by  whom  the  absence  of  the  hostess 


176  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

was  not  deplored.  Now  and  then,  Connie  Rashleigh 
and  Lola  came  to  see  her,  and  Hugo  paid  her  a  daily- 
visit  of  a  few  minutes.  One  evening  he  stayed  longer 
than  usual,  and  strode  up  and  down  the  room — a  sure 
sign  that  he  had  something  on  his  mind.  His  restless- 
ness was  accounted  for  by  his  suddenly  asking  her  to 
"let  him  have  a  look  at  the  necklace  with  the  emeralds." 

"  Tell  your  maid  to  get  it,"  he  said.  "  The  fact  is, 
I  bought  that  necklace  for  Lola  Corbett,  but  we  had  a 
row,  or  rather  she  anno3^ed  me,  and  so  I  gave  it  to 
you.  All  the  same,  she's  always  looked  upon  the  article 
as  hers,  and  it  has  rankled  in  her  mind,  and  she  is  so 
cracked  about  jewellery,  and  has  ragged  and  nagged 
so  much  about  this  damned  necklace,  that  I  feel  bound 
to  give  it  to  her.  You'll  let  me  have  it,  won't  you, 
Letty  ?  " 

His  manner  was  almost  persuasive.  He  was  saying 
to  himself  that  if  he  had  made  a  similar  proposition 
to  Lola  she  would  have  flown  into  a  rage,  that  would 
have  scared  even  him  ;  but  all  his  wife  said  was  : 

"  Oh,  of  course  !  Desiree  shall  get  it  out  at  once, 
and  I  will  send  it  to  your  room." 

"  That's  a  good  little  girl,"  he  remarked  approvingly. 
(To  himself,  '  She  hadn't  the  spirit  of  a  mouse !  He 
would  really  have  enjoyed  a  little  bit  of  a  scrap  !  ') 
"  All  right,"  he  continued,  "  I  will  get  you  another, 
and  just  as  good,  the  very  next  time  I  am  in  Paris." 

"  No,  no,  Hugo,"  she  protested.  "  I  really  have  more 
diamonds  and  things  than  I  can  wear.  But  there 
is  something  else — I — I — I  wish  you  would  give  me." 


THE  SERPENT'S  TOOTH  177 

Blagdon,  who  was  half-way  to  the  door,  halted. 

"  What's  that  ?  "  he  demanded,  turning  sharply 
round. 

"  A  little — a  little "  She  was  about  to  say  '  love,' 

but,  with  an  effort,  faltered  the  word  "  affection." 

"  What  rot !  "  he  exclaimed,  and  looking  her  over 
from  head  to  foot,  with  a  derisive  laugh,  he  went  out 
of  the  room. 


CHAPTER    XVII 

THE  expected  heir,  for  whom  conspicuous  pre- 
parations had  been  made — bonfires  laid  ready 
for  the  torch,  name  and  sponsors  solemnly  selected — 
turned  out  to  be  a  girl.  This  was  a  severe  and  uncon- 
cealed disappointment  to  Blagdon,  and  he  allowed  his 
wife  to  feel  the  full  brunt  of  his  indignation,  and  dis- 
pleasure. The  estate  and  all  the  property  was  strictly 
entailed,  and,  after  Hugo,  it  passed  to  a  distant  cousin 
(naturally  detested),  a  man  who  farmed  a  small  sheep 
ranch  in  New  Zealand,  and  was  reported  to  be  barely 
able  to  write  his  name. 

Old  Mrs.  Blagdon  who  had  come  to  Sharsley  for  the 
auspicious  event,  dissembled  her  dissatisfaction  with 
well-bred  dignity,  and  took  a  certain  amount  of  notice 
of  the  unwelcome  infant  (her  namesake),  a  fair  little 
waxen  creature,  adored  by  her  mother  from  the  mo- 
ment she  was  laid  in  her  arms. 

The  great  bonfires  remained  unlit,  the  charitable 
doles  were  withheld,  the  grand  dinner  to  the  tenantry 
was  cancelled ;  and  Blagdon,  like  a  sulky  schoolboy, 
left  home  to  be  consoled  by  his  usual  associates. 


Three  years  had  slipped  by  since  the  sensational  and 

178 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  179 

still-talked-of  wedding  at  Thornby,  and  although  a 
good  deal  of  water  had  flowed  under  the  bridge,  it  had 
brought  no  pleasant  flotsam  to  the  feet  of  Letty  Blag- 
don.  Her  husband  deserted  her  for  months  at  a  time  ; 
he  had  taken  to  racing,  owned  a  stable  and  rented 
rooms  at  Newmarket,  as  well  as  a  hunting-box  in  the 
shires,  declaring  that  Sharsley,  as  a  hunting  centre, 
was  obsolete.  He  frequently  went  abroad  en  gar f  on, 
assuring  inquisitive  friends,  that  "  his  wife  loathed  the 
Continent,  and  that  nothing  would  induce  her  to  leave 
the  child." 

During  the  first  months  of  Letty's  married  life  the 
Court  had  opened  its  long-closed  doors,  and  maintained 
something  of  its  ancient  state  ;  there  had  been  dinners, 
shoots,  and  visitors  ;  more  than  once  Aunt  Dorothy 
had  adventured  over  from  Thornby,  put  up  her  horses, 
and  accorded  to  her  miserable  niece,  a  critical  and 
inquisitive  '  day '  ;  but  a  twenty-mile  drive  is  a 
serious  imdertaking,  and  Mrs.  Fenchurch  contented 
herself  with  boasting  to  her  friends  of  Mrs.  Blagdon's 
enviable  happiness,  and  the  beauties,  and  luxuries,  of 
her  home. 

Not  so  Uncle  Tom  !  He  missed — sorely  missed — the 
light  of  his  eyes,  the  joy  of  his  heart,  and  felt  guiltily 
anxious  with  regard  to  her  future.  Mounted  on  Kitty, 
a  notable  Irish  mare,  he  rode  over  to  Sharsley  every 
few  weeks  ;  when  the  master  of  the  house  happened 
to  be  at  home  these  excursions  had  the  effect  of 
emphasising  his  apprehensions.  The  tone  in  which 
Blagdon  addressed  his  wife,  his  rudeness,   and  the 


180  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

ferocity  of  his  sarcasms  made  the  thin  blood  of  the  old 
soldier  mount  to  his  face ;  and  yet  the  host  mended  his 
manners  when  Letty's  uncle  was  present.  Fenchurch 
was  such  a  starched-up  old  cock ; — and  that  a  man  of 
his  age  would  ride  forty  miles  just  to  see  a  relative, 
awakened  Blagdon's  amusement  and  surprise. 

"  The  old  boy  looks  bad — he's  breaking  !  "  he 
abruptly  remarked  to  his  wife  one  afternoon  after  her 
uncle  had  ridden  away. 

Letty  had  observed  a  change ;  the  hale  little  officer 
now  looked  worn  and  grey  ;  he  had  grown  thin,  and 
lost  his  cheery  manner ;  when  Hugo  noticed  anything 
of  that  sort,  it  must  be  woefully  apparent  !  However, 
she  made  no  answer,  and  winked  back  her  tears,  and 
her  husband  resumed  : 

"  I'm  surprised  Mrs.  Fen  has  not  done  for  him  long 
ago,  with  her  jaw  and  her  managing,  and  her  damned 
hatchet  face.  Thank  God  she  doesn't  show  it  here !  " 
and  with  this  congratulation  on  his  lips,  Blagdon  de- 
parted. 

By  and  by  the  forty-mile  ride  proved  too  much  for 
Kitty ;  so  said  her  master ;  he  sent  her  a  night  before 
to  a  half-way  village  inn  (where,  according  to  the 
landlady.  Queen  Elizabeth  had  slept  the  night  before 
her  head  was  cut  off !),  drove  there  himself  next  day, 
and  rode  her  on  to  Sharsley. 

These  visits  seemed  to  afford  him  the  greatest  plea- 
sure, though  it  was  evident  to  Letty  that  they  entailed 
an  extraordinary  effort.  Each  time  she  saw  her  uncle, 
she  noted,  with  a  sinking  heart,  a  waning  of  his  spirits 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  181 

and  a  wasting  of  his  frame.  He  would  never  admit 
that  he  was  aihng — and  in  this  make-beheve  he  was 
nobly  supported  by  his  wife.  He  had  a  horror  of  not 
being  able  to  do  what  he  had  always  done,  and  the 
iron  will  of  his  Dorothy,  and  his  own  frantic  clinging 
to  activity,  compelled  the  poor,  frail  body  to  shoot  and 
hunt  as  usual.  The  few  hours  he  spent  with  Letty 
when  he  found  her  alone,  were  truly  a  joy  and  comfort 
to  both.  On  these  occasions,  they  never  spoke  of  Hugo ; 
but  Cara  the  baby  was  exhibited,  praised,  and  played 
with,  and  her  mother  made  amazing  efforts  to  seem 
gay.  She  realised,  that  Uncle  Tom  believed  her  to  be 
unhappily  married,  and  that  this  conviction  was  break- 
ing his  heart  ;  and  she  strove  very  anxiously  to  play 
the  part  of  a  gay  and  contented  young  woman,  who  does 
not  object  to  being  a  grass  widow,  or  to  be  left  by  her- 
self for  months  (to  him  she  spoke  of  weeks),  but  the  farce 
was  a  failure  ;  the  unsuccessful  actress  read  this  in  her 
uncle's  haggard  eyes,  and  in  the  long,  significant  pres- 
sure of  his  hand,  ere  he  wished  her  good-bye,  and  sadly 
rode  away. 

And  one  June  afternoon  Kitty  and  the  Colonel  rode 
away,  never  to  return,  for  a  week  later  Colonel  Fen- 
church  was  found  sitting  in  his  chair  in  the  smoking- 
room,  with  Letty's  last  letter  in  his  stiffening  hand, 
quite  dead.  The  poor  little  Colonel  had  not  much  to 
bequeath,  but  by  a  recent  will  he  left  forty  pounds  a  year 
to  his  beloved  niece  Lettice  Blagdon — and  not  all  the 
Fenchurch  pictures,  diamonds,  and  heirlooms,  could 
console  his  bereaved  widow  for  this  unnecessary  legacy. 


182  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  So  cruel  to  me !  "  she  imparted  in  confidence  to 
her  intimates  ;  "  and  so  preposterous — as  if  Letty  had 
not  more  money  than  she  can  spend  !  " 

But  possibly  the  dead  man  had  his  reasons  ;  perhaps 
he  had  been  granted  the  far-sighted  vision  which  is 
given  to  those  who  are  nearing  the  border-land. 

His  relict  affected  not  only  overwhelming  grief,  but 
the  direst  poverty.  After  the  funeral,  and  when  mat- 
ters were  being  wound  up,  she  endeavoured  to  sell  a 
couple  of  hunters  to  Hugo. 

"  No,  by  Jove  !  "  he  exclaimed,  as  he  tossed  down 
the  letter ;  "I  think  I  see  myself — the  bay  has  a 
spavin,  the  black  is  touched  in  the  wind.  Your  aunt 
did  me  once,"  glaring  over  at  Letty  with  unpleasant 
significance ;  "  but  never  again — once  bitten,  twice 
shy  !  " 

The  thrifty  lady  was  more  successful  in  her  trans- 
actions with  her  niece;  to  whom  she  submitted  two 
tea-gowns,  a  driving-coat,  and  an  opera  mantle  •  the 
lot  one  hundred  pounds. 

"  You  see,"  she  wrote,  "  I  shall  be  in  black  for  such 
an  age,  and  I'm  frightfully  hard  up  "  (she  had  eighteen 
hundred  a  year  and  expectations) "  so,  Letty,  you  really 
must  take  them  off  my  hands.  Think  of  all  I've  done 
for  yoit !  "  and  Letty  was,  as  usual,  obedient. 

She  felt  her  uncle's  death  acutely  ;  he  and  the  baby 
were  all  she  had  to  love  and  to  love  her — for  Hugo  had 
told  her  a  thousand  times  that  he  hated  the  sight  of 
her — and  except  Maude  Hesketh  and  Frances  Lumley, 
she  had  no  friends. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  183 

Frances  Lumley  was  a  clever,  bright,  energetic 
young  woman,  whose  brother,  she  declared,  had  stolen 
her  good  looks.  "  By  rights  the  boy  should  be  the 
plain  one  of  the  family — and  it  is  I  who  am  ugly." 

But  this  was  an  extreme  statement ;  Miss  Lumley's 
figure  was  the  embodiment  of  slim  grace,  her  hair  soft 
and  beautiful ;  her  eyes,  though  sparkling  and  intelli- 
gent, were  too  small ;  her  mouth,  on  the  other  hand, 
was  too  large  ;  perhaps  had  their  dimensions  been 
reversed,  Blagdon,  who  found  her  amusing  and  out- 
spoken, might  have  asked  her  to  marry  him  1  The 
Rector's  daughter  was  popular  with  all  degrees  of 
society  ;  a  first-rate  musician,  an  entertaining  com- 
panion, and  a  capable  nurse.  The  cottagers  adored 
her,  "  Miss  Frances  was  so  funny,  and  told  them  such 
queer  tales,  all  the  while  she  was  working  over  a  case, 
you  scarcely  could  tell  you  had  a  sore  leg  or  a  boil,  or 
a  burn,  she  was  that  clever  with  her  fingers,  and  her 
tongue."  She  was  also  her  father's  right  hand,  copied 
out  his  sermons,  wrote  his  letters,  read  to  him,  and 
cared  for  him  like  a  guardian  angel. 

Miss  Lumley  was  pathetically  anxious  to  extend  her 
sheltering  wing  over  the  poor  lonely  girl  at  the  big 
house,  and  did  her  utmost  to  entice  her  to  the  Rectory, 
to  tea,  to  tennis,  to  visit  among  the  cottagers — in  short, 
to  make  some  break  in  that  solitary  monotonous 
existence. 

"  When  Aunt  Denton  used  to  fill  her  letters  with 
you,"  she  said,  "  I  little  expected  that  her  Letty  would 
be  the  great  lady  here,  that  she  would  go  on  my  errands, 


184  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

and  mend  my  gloves,  and  that  I  should  see  so  much  of 
her." 

"  Too  much,  I'm  afraid — this  is  the  third  time  I  am 
here  in  a  week  !  " 

'"'  Can't  have  too  much  of  a  good  thing !  and  you 
come  to  be  useful — you  are  always  ornamental — and 
help  me  with  the  Sewing  Club,  you  know  you  have 
nothing  to  do  in  that  big  rambling  place.  Fraser 
won't  let  you  touch  the  garden,  the  rouged  and  rust- 
ling Bates  runs  the  house — all  you  may  do  is  to  practise 
your  singing  and  play  patience." 

"  But  I  never  play  cards,"  protested  Letty. 

"  There  are  other  games  of  patience,  my  dear — 
pied  de  la  lettre !  Your  husband  has  old-fashioned 
ideas  about  his  partner's  duties,  but  is  up  to  date  about 
his  own." 

"  I  don't  understand  you,  Francie." 

"  No  ?  well  then  I'll  explain.  The  wife  creed  is  in 
his  blood,  and  belongs  to  the  prehistoric  race  that 
treated  women  as  beasts  of  burden,  and  beat  them  with 
clubs  ;  later  on,  women  were  domestic  slaves,  and 
more  recently — say  a  hundred  years  ago — mere  nurses 
and  upper  servants,  kept  at  home  all  the  year  round 
making  samplers  and  pickles,  and  shirts,  and  jam — 
and  having  babies  !  " 

"  Frances  !  " 

"  Am  I  raising  the  standard  of  revolt  ?  I  declare 
you  are  looking  quite  scared.  Lady  Rashleigh  holds 
my  views — modern  and  emancipated — no  shirts  or 
pickles  for  her — only  jam,  and  lots  of  the  best  !    When 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  185 

I  was  in  Town  the  other  day  I  saw  her  at  the  theatre  ; 
she  has  grown  enormous,  and  was  simply  bulging  out 
of  her  box.  Lord  Robbie  was  with  her — displaying  a 
wonderful  expanse  of  shirt  front,  and  a  dazzling  diamond 
stud  that  hit  you  in  the  eye — he  looked  such  a  dog !  He 
is  rather  fond  of  me,  and  runs  down  here  after  tea  ; 
when  you  think  he  is  snug  in  the  smoking-room,  he  is 
sitting,  figuratively,  at  my  feet.  I  wouldn't  marry 
him  for — let  me  see — three  millions  !  There,  I've 
finished  the  last,  and  my  herring-boning,  is  a  work 
of  art." 

During  her  frequent  visits  to  the  Rectory,  Mrs. 
Blagdon  was  liable  to  encounter  the  '  small  fry  '  ;  at 
first  they  stiffened,  and  looked  at  the  lady  with  cold, 
unrecognising  eyes ;  but  when  they  discovered  that 
this  pretty,  shy  girl  was  guiltless  of  airs,  and  rather 
afraid  of  them,  they  suffered  her  acquaintance,  and 
although  they  never  entered  one  another's  houses, 
spoke  to  her  when  they  met,  offered  the  names  of  new 
books  and  new  roses,  and  gave  her,  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood,  an  excellent  character,  as  an  inoffen- 
sive nonentity. 

By  this  time  the  County  had  almost  forgotten  the 
existence  of  Mrs.  Blagdon.  She  did  not  hunt  or  go  to 
balls,  seemed  to  be  perpetually  in  mourning,  and  was 
said  to  suffer  from  '  nerves,' — and  nerves  in  this  century 
stand  for  so  much  !  Occasionally  she  was  to  be  met 
on  the  roads,  driving  her  baby  in  a  little  governess-car, 
and  looking  ridiculously  like  some  shy  animal,  that 
hoped  to  escape  the  notice  of  mankind ! 


186  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Letty  was  lonely.  She  had  never  felt  at  home  at 
Sharsley,  but  as  if  she  were  on  a  visit  to  some  stiff, 
country  house ;  it  still  seemed  to  hold  the  spirits  of 
the  dead  and  gone  Scropes,  and  the  great  drawing- 
room,  with  its  portraits  of  staring  ancestors  (long- 
waisted,  long-faced,  and  long-fingered),  black  Indian 
cabinets,  and  book-cases  of  neglected  books,  gave  her 
a  chill. 

At  distant  intervals  Mrs.  Hesketh  came  over  to 
Sharsley  (craftily and  stealthily  in  the  master's  absence), 
to  dine  and  sleep,  and  her  brief  visits  were  Letty's 
greatest  pleasure.  On  the  last  of  these  occasions, 
Blagdon  returned  unexpectedly,  and  in  a  black  humour 
— one  of  his  most  promising  two-year-olds,  had  gone 
wrong. 

The  afternoon  before  his  arrival,  Letty  and  her 
friend  had  wandered  about  the  grounds,  talking  of 
everything  but  what  was  uppermost  in  their  hearts — 
the  misery  of  one,  the  sympathy  of  the  other.  As  they 
paced  along  the  elder  understood  how  empty  the  life  of 
her  companion  was  ;  she  might  not  garden — the  gar- 
dens were  let ;  she  had  not  even  a  dog — the  nursery 
and  the  piano  were  her  sole  resources. 

At  tea  Mrs.  Hesketh  realised  that  she  was  not  a 
welcome  guest.  Her  host  did  not  find  it  necessary  to 
conceal  his  sentiments  ;  nor  did  she  fail  to  remark, 
the  abominable  way  in  which  he  addressed  his  wife, 
and  how  he  ordered  her  about,  and  pushed  out  of  the 
room  before  her. 

Dinner  was  a  truly  sombre  meal :  the  fish  was  cold, 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  187 

and  Mr.  Blagdon  had  one  of  his  worst  attacks  of 
temper.  Vainly  did  the  visitor  endeavour  to  make 
light  and  airy  conversation ;  he  was  so  violent  and 
abusive  after  the  servants  had  withdrawn,  that  Letty, 
unable  to  restrain  her  tears,  fled  out  of  the  room  ;  but 
brave  Mrs.  Hesketh  remained  to  remonstrate  and  do 
battle  with  the  tyrant. 

"  If  no  one  else  is  going  to  speak  to  you,  Mr.  Blagdon, 
I  will,"  she  began  intrepidly.  "  Everyone  is  crying 
shame  on  you  for  the  way  you  neglect  your  young 
wife." 

"  I  don't  care  a  damn  what  they  say  !  "  he  roared. 
"  Let  everyone  mind  their  own  business.  She  is  jolly 
well  treated — too  well." 

"  Is  it  too  well,  that  she  should  be  shut  up  here  alone 
for  months  at  a  time  ?  That  she  is  cut  off  from  all 
associates  of  her  own  class — that  she  is  never  taken 
into  society  ?  " 

"  She  has  everything  she  wants,"  he  blustered  ;  "  a 
fine  house,  and  servants — and  a  baby.  Why,  my 
mother's  mother  who  lived  here,  and  never  stirred 
beyond  the  village,  and  was  a  woman  of  family — 
hadn't  half  such  a  good  time  !  " 

"  That  must  have  been  more  than  a  hundred  years 
ago,  and  the  world  has  improved,  and  become  en- 
lightened since  then.  Letty  is  a  girl  who  has  been 
educated." 

"  And  you  mean  to  say  my  mother's  mother  wasn't? 
Thank  you  !  " 

"  You  know  very  well  what  I  mean." 


188  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"I'm  damned  if  I  know  what  you  mean,  by  taking 
me  to  task  in  this  way,  and  calling  me  over  the  coals 
in  my  own  house,"  and  his  expression  was  murderous. 

"  I  am  Letty's  friend." 

"  Yes,  and  no  doubt  she  has  been  whining  to  you, 
and  telling  you  fine  tales  ?  "  he  demanded  with  blazing 
eyes,  "  and  posing  as  a  martyr." 

"  She  has  never  breathed  a  word  of  her  troubles  to 
me  ;  but  anyone  can  see  that  she  is  unhappy.  I  can't 
think  why  in  the  world  you  married  her  ?  " 

"  I  can't  think  why  I  did,  either !  I  was  deadly 
sick  of  her  at  the  end  of  a  week.  Upon  my  soul,  I  was  ! 
Marriage  is  like  a  trap — you  can't  have  a  wife  on  ap- 
proval— when  you  are  in,  there's  no  way  of  getting 
out  !  By  Jove,  I  envy  the  Americans  their  divorce 
laws — then  she  could  go  her  way — and  I  mine.  If 
some  smart  young  fellow  would  take  a  fancy  to  Letty, 
and  run  off  with  her  I  should  say  '  Wah-wah  !  '  " 

Mrs.  Hesketh  looked  as  she  was — horrified. 

"  There  are  no  smart  young  men  about  here,"  he 
added  ;  "so  Letty  is  all  right — virtue  is  the  absence 
of  temptation." 

Mrs.  Hesketh  rose  slowly,  turned  her  back  upon  her 
host,  walked  to  the  door  very  quietly,  opened  it  and 
went  out,  leaving  it  wide.  She  found  Letty  in  her  own 
room,  sitting  with  her  face  in  her  hands, — a  frequent 
attitude. 

"  My  child,"  she  began,  "  I  have  been  talking  to  the 
dreadful  man  downstairs  that  ill-fortune  has  given 
you  for   a   husband.     He  is — well,   I  won't  say  any 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  189 

more,  but  this — that  I  wish  I  could  take  you  away 
with  me,  and  let  you  make  a  home  with  me — you 
and  the  baby! " 

"  How  I  wish  you  could  !  "  said  Letty,  pushing  back 
her  hair  as  she  spoke.  "  But  there  is  no  use  in  wishing. 
I  often  wish  I  was  dead — and  it's  no  good." 

"  Well,  remember,  my  dear,  if  ever  you  are  at  the 
end  of  your  tether,  you  must  come  to  me." 

Letty  gave  her  a  glance  of  despair,  then  she  rose 
and  said  : 

"  I  shall  have  to  go  down  at  once,  for  Hugo  always 
expects  me  to  be  in  the  drawing-room  when  he  is  there 
— he  likes  me  to  sing  the  new  musical  comedies.  He 
says  my  voice  sends  him  to  sleep." 

"  My  dear,  if  I  were  you,  for  once  I  would  disappoint 
your  Saul !  /  do  not  intend  to  go  downstairs  again 
to-night,  and  I  shall  leave  you  immediately  after 
breakfast  to-morrow.  Mr.  Blagdon  was  outrageously 
rude  to  you  at  dinner — apparently  he  imagined  that 
he  can  make  you  miserable  with  impunity,  that  you 
will  ignore  his  insults,  and  entertain  him  in  the  drawing- 
room  all  smiles  and  songs.  Believe  me,  you  are  making 
a  fatal  mistake  ;  possibly  if  you  had  resisted  in  the 
first  instance,  things  would  never  have  come  to  such  a 
pass.    You  are  not  his  wife,  but  his  doormat  !  " 

Again  Mrs.  Hesketh  had  sown  a  little  seed.  Letty 
for  once  did  resist,  and  the  two  friends  remained  to- 
gether talking  until  bed-time.  Blagdon,  finding  the 
drawing-room  empty,  glared  round  it,  then  stalked 
into  the  smoking-room,  where  he  smoked  cigars  and 


190  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

drank  whiskies  and  sodas  in  solitary  state,  and  a  con- 
dition of  volcanic  indignation. 

"  Of  course,  the  old  woman  was  at  the  bottom  of 
Letty's  sulks — a  damned  meddlesome  hag  !  "  He 
rang  the  bell  and  said  to  the  footman  : 

"  Tell  Mrs.  Hesketh's  maid  to  let  her  mistress  know, 
that  her  carriage  is  ordered  to  take  her  home  at  nine 
o'clock  to-morrow  morning." 


CHAPTER    XVIII 

THE  Rev.  Adrian  Lumley  had  been  ailing  for  a  con- 
siderable time ;  he  was  no  longer  able  to  undertake 
his  parish  duties,  and  compelled  to  employ  a  curate. 
Lately  his  health  had  suddenly  become  so  uncertain 
that  his  son  took  three  months'  leave,  and  returned 
from  Egypt.  Captain  Lumley  arrived  looking  hand- 
some, sunburnt,  and  cheery,  and  his  sister  Frances 
realised  that  he  was  no  longer  the  boy  that,  as  her 
younger  brother,  she  had  always  managed,  patronised, 
and  coerced.  Lancelot  had  been  adjutant  of  his 
regiment,  and  acquired  a  manner  of  decision  and 
brevity  that  was  new.  He  found  his  father  frail, 
broken-down,  and  evidently  failing  fast.  For  months, 
the  Rector  had  confined  himself  to  his  books  and  his 
garden,  and  now  he  was  a  prisoner  in  his  room.  Perhaps 
if  the  reverend  gentleman  had  not  been  so  completely 
laid  upon  the  shelf,  matters  at  Shaisley  might  have 
been  smoothed  over,  and  improved;  but,  as  it  was, 
Blagdon  had  no  one  to  withstand  him  ;  he  had  parted 
with  any  scruples  he  might  possess,  and  affairs  had 
gone  from  bad  to  worse.  Except  for  a  few  days  in 
the  shooting  season,  he  had  ceased  to  live  at  home. 
Most  of  the  rooms  were  closed,  servants  dismissed, 
the  gardens   let,   the   horses   sold.     He  had    heavy 

191 


192  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

expenses  elsewhere,  and  was  not  disposed  to  burn 
the  candle  at  both  ends.  He  had  allowed  it  to  be 
whispered  into  the  ear  of  society,  that  his  wife  was 
*  not  quite  all  there.'  Magnified  descriptions  of  her  first 
disastrous  dinner-party,  her  bizarre  gowns,  her  silence 
and  shyness,  gave  colour  to  this  suggestion, — so  said 
his  interested  friends  ;  and  other  people  declared  that 
Blagdon  was  bad, — some  even  added,  mad !  Altogether 
Sharsley  was  given  a  wide  berth  ;  it  was  out  of  the 
way,  more  recent  topics,  quarrels,  and  scandals  arose, 
and  poor  young  Mrs.  Blagdon  was  comparatively 
forgotten. 

Frances  had  always  divined  that  her  brother  had 
cared  for  Letty  Glyn.  Of  course,  now  that  she  was 
married,  she  was  out  of  his  reach;  still,  in  talking 
over  the  countryside  news,  she  studiously  omitted  any 
particular  reference  to  the  Blagdons. 

"  What  about  the  Court  ?  How  did  they  get  on  ?  " 
her  brother  asked  at  last. 

"  Not  very  well,"  she  was  obliged  to  confess  ;  "he 
is  a  strange  sort  of  a  man,  and  is  but  little  at  home. 
He  has  a  shocking  temper." 

"  A  nice  sort  of  husband  for  her  1  Mrs.  Fenchurch 
should  be  proud  of  herself !  Look  here,  Francis,  you 
must  take  me  to  call  to-morrow." 

Lumley  carried  out  his  suggestion,  but,  as  it  hap- 
pened, unaccompanied  by  his  sister,  for  at  the  last 
moment,  a  dying  parishioner  had  summoned  her, 
and  he  walked  up  to  Sharsley  alone. 

It  was  summer,  and  in  one  respect  Sharsley  was 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  193 

at  its  best ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  the  neat  trimness, 
and  the  closely  mown  lawns  appeared  to  be  things  of 
the  past.  The  place  now  wore  a  desolate,  neglected 
appearance,  and  as  he  approached,  the  visitor  noticed 
that  the  shutters  of  most  of  the  rooms  were  closed,  and 
the  avenue  and  gravel  paths  were  full  of  weeds.  On 
enquiry  at  the  door,  he  was  informed  that  Mrs.  Blagdon 
was  somewhere  in  the  grounds,  and  after  a  search  he 
found  her  playing  with  her  child — a  beautiful  little 
golden-haired  creature,  now  able  to  walk,  attended 
by  a  somewhat  grim-looking  nurse.  Her  mother, 
sitting  upon  the  grass  making  daisy  chains  for  her, 
sprang  up  when  she  saw  Lumley  approaching,  and 
greeted  him  with  smiles.  But  how  she  was  changed  ! 
He  felt  shocked.  The  roundness  of  Letty's  face  was 
gone  ;  her  beautiful  blue  eyes  looked  sunken,  their 
expression  was  strained  and  anxious  ;  she  might  be 
seven  or  eight  years  older  than  her  real  age — which 
was  little  more  than  twenty.  Evidently  she  had 
passed  through  a  devastating  storm  which  had  ravaged 
her  looks  and  broken  her  heart.  It  was  as  if  he  and 
her  husband  had  both  coveted  the  same  beautiful 
flower,  and  Blagdon  had  plucked  it,  and  thrown  it 
away  to  wither  and  die. 

But  there  was  no  sign  of  depression  in  Mrs.  Blagdon's 
manner  or  conversation  ;  she  asked  many  questions 
about  his  regiment  and  Egypt ;  she  talked  of  his  father 
and  sister  and  Mrs.  Hesketh.  No,  she  had  not  been 
over  to  Thornby  for  nearly  a  year.  In  answer  to  his 
exclamation  of  astonishment,  she  coloured  and  said  ; 


194  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  You  see,  I  can't  very  well  leave  baby." 

"  Then  I  suppose  they  come  over  and  see  you  fairly 
often  ?  " 

"  Not  very  often,"  she  answered,  with  a  trembling 
lip.  She  was  not  disposed  to  inform  him,  that  her 
husband  had  quarrelled  with  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  and 
practically  turned  Mrs.  Hesketh  out  of  the  house,  and 
hastily  changed  the  subject. 

Presently  the  grim-looking  nurse  picked  up  the 
child,  and  said  : 

"  It's  time  for  Miss  Cara's  tea,"  and  was  about  to 
carry  her  off  when  Lumley  interposed. 

"  She  is  a  darling  !  "  he  said,  taking  her  little  hand 
in  his  as  it  hung  over  the  nurse's  shoulder.  "  I  don't 
know  much  about  children,  but  she  seems  to  be 
perfect — and  very  like  you,"  and  he  raised  the  little 
chubby  fingers  to  his  lips.  Subsequently  it  was  mooted 
in  the  servants'  hall,  that  that  "  'ere  young  Lumley  the 
officer,  who  had  been  strolling  about  the  grounds  with 
the  missus  for  the  best  part  of  an  hour,  had  told  her  to 
her  face  that  she  was  perfect  and  a  darling,  and  that 
nurse  had  heard  him  say  so,  with  her  own  two  ears !  " 

No  doubt  it  was  from  this  source  that  the  first  faint 
whisper  of  gossip  rose,  and  was  wafted  into  the  village ; 
and  possibly  it  was  not  very  discreet  of  young  Lumley 
to  come  up  to  Sharsley  alone, — or  even  with  his  sister, 
two  or  three  times  a  week.  Passers-by  peering  through 
the  railings  in  the  park  waUs,  had  paused  and  stared ; 
sometimes  they  could  see  two  figures,  pacing  up  and 
down  the  long  terrace ! 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  195 

There  was  not  the  smallest  harm  in  these  walks 
and  visits.  Liimley  brought  errands  and  notes  from 
Frances,  and  carried  to  her  messages  and  books, 
for  just  at  this  time  their  father  was  very  ill,  and 
Frances  was  in  close  attendance,  and  never  left  the 
Rectory. 

Letty  enjoyed  one  luxury,  and  that  was  a  liberal 
supply  of  books  ;  no  need  for  her  to  spend  her  allow- 
ance on  frocks,  and  the  quarterly  payments  went  in 
relieving  charities,  subscribing  to  periodicals,  and 
buying  literature.  Sometimes,  she  told  herself  that 
without  these  friends,  that  carried  her  out  of  her 
gloomy,  isolated  life,  she  would  have  gone  melancholy 
mad.  True,  there  was  the  child ;  but  a  baby  aged 
two  and  a  half,  cannot  altogether  fill  the  life  of  an 
educated  girl  of  twenty,  and,  besides  this,  the  baby 
had  a  nurse  who  stood  on  her  dignity,  and  required 
her  nursery  to  herself. 

Oh,  the  long,  long  hours  that  Letty  spent  alone,  the 
only  breaks  being  a  hurried  visit  to  the  Rectory.  How 
the  pensive  melancholy  of  the  autumn  woods  oppressed 
her  !  the  low,  grey  fog,  lying  in  the  hollows  of  the 
park,  took  the  shape  of  shadowy  spectres  rising  from 
their  graves  ;  bare  brown  trees,  rooted  in  carpets  of 
ruddy  leaves,  seemed  to  mock  her  with  their  crooked 
branches,  and  the  staring  sun,  sinking  into  the  west, 
to  cast  on  her  rays  of  pity  and  derision. 

Yes,  she  had  sold  herself  to  escape  immediate  dis- 
comfort, and  this  was  her  punishment  :  an  existence 
of  loveless  degradation.    In  winter,  her  solitude  and 


196  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

misery  pressed  on  her  still  more  cruelly ;  she  could 
reHeve  the  villagers  with  blankets  and  coal,  but  what 
could  she  do  for  the  thousands  of  perishing  birds,  the 
starving  hares,  the  shivering  cattle  ?  The  nights  were 
the  worst,  when  the  wind  came  sobbing  to  the 
windows,  shook  the  doors  of  the  empty  rooms,  and 
moaned  among  the  trees,  with  the  despairing  cries  of 
a  lost  soul;  rats  in  the  old  walls — and  strange  un- 
accountable noises — made  sleep — broken — and  waking 
a  terror. 

But  here  at  last  was  summer !  and  she  could  spend 
most  of  her  time  out  of  doors.  At  the  moment,  she 
realised  that  it  was  an  exhilarating  change,  to  have  a 
companion  near  her  own  age  to  stroll  with  through 
the  woods,  and  talk  to.  Oh,  if  she  had  only  been 
married  to  Lancelot  Lumley  !  Into  the  emptiness  of 
her  heart,  there  stole  the  inevitable  temptations  of 
memory  ;  but  it  was  sinful  to  harbour  such  thoughts. 
Well,  at  any  rate,  Lancelot  had  never  actually  asked 
her  to  marry  him — Hugo  had — and  so  there  it  was. 
And  here  she  was — the  most  miserable  young  woman 
within  the  four  seas. 

When  Lumley  had  been  at  home  for  about  a  fort- 
night, and  his  father's  health  had  somewhat  improved, 
he  went  over  to  see  his  relations  the  Dentons,  and 
stayed  with  them  for  two  days.  From  them, 
Mrs.  Hesketh  and  Mrs.  Fenchurch,  he  heard  the  real 
truth,  which  had  been  so  carefully  withheld  when  he 
had  been  on  the  spot  :  how  Hugo  Blagdon  neglected 
his  wife,  cut  her  off  from  all  society,  and  spent  most 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  197 

of  his  time  in  London  or  Paris, — his  excuse  being  that 
she  was  but  one  degree  removed  from  imbecihty. 

Perhaps  it  was  indiscreet  of  Maude  Hesketh  to 
relate  the  wrongs  of  her  friend  with  such  passionate 
eloquence,  for  she  fired  the  young  man's  blood,  and 
he  returned  to  the  Rectory  carrying  with  him  a 
smouldering  heart.  Why  should  not  he  pick  up  this 
pearl  that  was  trampled  on  by  a  swine  ? 

Just  at  the  time,  that  he  returned,  Hugo  Blagdon 
made  one  of  his  rare  appearances.  He  entered  the 
drawing-room  to  discover  Lumley  and  his  wife  at 
tea.  Lumley  had  come  to  tell  her  about  his  visit,  and 
bring  messages  and  all  the  latest  news  from  Thornby. 
Amazing  to  relate  Blagdon's  manner  to  the  silent 
young  man,  was  cordial,  and  even  effusive ! — he  talked 
about  mutual  friends,  sport,  and  the  service — un- 
daunted by  his  guest's  frigidity — and  said  : 

"  I  am  not  much  here  myself — the  place  doesn't 
agree  with  me."  (This  was  a  new  excuse  invented  on 
the  spot.)  "  But  if  you  like  to  come  up  at  any  time 
and  shoot,  I  shall  be  glad.  The  rabbits  want  thinning, 
and  by  and  by  there  will  be  the  partridges." 

He  also  invited  Lumley  to  dine,  but  this  he  curtly 
declined.  Nothing  would  induce  him  to  eat  Blagdon's 
salt  !  The  way  in  which  he  spoke  to,  and  looked  at 
his  wife,  made  him  feel  beside  himself. 

For  two  or  three  days  Captain  Lumley  failed  to 
appear ;  then  Mr.  Blagdon's  head  keeper  went  down 
to  the  Rectory  to  see  him,  and  announced  his  master 
had  gone  away,  and  left  orders  that  he  was  to  have  as 


198  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

much  shooting  as  he  hked,  and  to  make  use  of  the  guns 
in  the  gun-room  ;  and,  in  fact,  that  it  would  be  a 
favour  more  than  otherwise  to  keep  the  game  down. 
All  this  was  also  mentioned  in  a  civil  note. 

But  Lancelot  Lumley  did  not  wish  to  shoot  ;  he 
wanted  to  see  Blagdon's  wife,  and  walked  up  to  Sharsley 
that  same  afternoon.  Mrs.  Blagdon  was  in  her  room, 
and  sent  a  message  to  say  that  she  had  a  headache 
and  was  sorry  she  could  not  receive  anyone.  He  felt 
unreasonably  disappointed,  and  wandered  about  the 
place  for  hours — making  use  of  his  liberty  to  explore 
the  woods  ;  and  there,  to  his  astonishment  and  hers — 
for  she  supposed  he  had  gone  home — Letty  met  him 
face  to  face  in  a  walk  in  one  of  the  plantations.  She 
started  and  exclaimed,  as  they  came  upon  one  another ; 
and  now  he  understood  why  she  had  denied  herself! 
Mrs.  Blagdon  had  a  black  eye,  and  her  lip  was  cut 
and  swollen. 

"  I  did  not  want  you  to  see  me,"  she  began  nervously. 
"  I  fell  over  a  chair  last  night  in  the  dark,  and  I'm 
rather  an  object." 

"  What  is  the  use  of  telling  me  that  ?  "  he  answered 
roughly;  pity,  deep  concern  for  her,  and  blind  fury 
against  Blagdon  getting  the  better  of  him — "  when  I 
know  as  well  as  you  do,  that  your  husband  struck 
you  ?    Does  he  often  do  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  don't,  don't  ask  me,"  she  faltered  ;  "  let  us 
talk  of  other  things — please  never  allude  to  this 
again.    Hugo  has  a  temper — and  I — I — irritate  him." 

"  He  is  a  brute  ! "'  declared  Lumley,  whose  face  had 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  199 

grown  white  and  stern.  "  The  way  he  treats  you  is 
notorious.    Why  do  you  stay  with  him  ?  " 

"  What  else  am  I  to  do  ?  "  she  asked  piteously. 
"  I  have  no  other  home  ;  I  could  not  go  to  The  Holt 
now.  Of  course  there  is  Hugo's  sister;  but  although 
she  is  angry  with  him,  and  tells  me  I  am  a  little  fool, 
yet  she  would  never  openly  take  my  part  against 
her  brother.  No,  there  is  no  escape  for  me,  I 
must  just  live  my  life.  Hugo  hates  me  ;  over  and 
over  again,  he  has  told  me  that  he  wishes  I  were 
dead  !  " 

She  sat  down  as  she  spoke,  on  a  rustic  seat,  over- 
come by  her  emotions,  and  losing  her  self-control, 
buried  her  disfigured  face  in  her  hands.  As  Lumley 
stood  looking  at  her,  he  felt  ready  to  offer  his  life 
on  the  instant,  and  to  fling  his  own  plans  and  all 
fortune's  chances  to  the  winds ;  but  he  did  not 
attempt  to  soothe  or  console  her;  and  she  wept  un- 
interruptedly for  some  little  time ;  then,  as  her  sobs 
ceased,  and  she  became  calmer,  he  said  quietly, — 
though  inwardly  shaken  with  agitation  : 

"  Listen  to  me,  Letty.  There  is  an  escape  for  you. 
I  have  always  loved  you — yes — ever  since  the  day 
that  you  came  to  Thornby,  and  I  first  saw  you ; 
you  remember  how  we  did  the  pulpit  together,  how 
you  gave  your  very  first  dance  to  me — you  are  the 
only  girl  I  ever  cared  about.  I  know  this  is  a  hackneyed 
saying,  but  it  is  absolutely  true.  I  had  nothing  to 
marry  on,  nothing  to  offer  you,  but  you  were  so  young 
— barely  seventeen,  and  I  thought  I  would  wait.    I 


200  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

talked  it  over  with  my  uncle,  and  asked  if  I  might  say 
a  word  to  you.  He  said  it  would  be  madness;  that 
you  had  no  thought  of — of — Clovers,  being  a  mere  child, 
and  that  the  Fenchurchs  would  never  consent  to  a 
long  engagement ;  then  Blagdon  saw  you,  and  he 
came  and  snatched  away  my  treasure.  If  he  had 
made  you  happy,  I  could  have  forgiven  him ;  but  even 
when  you  were  a  bride,  I  seemed  to  see  clouds.  I 
return  home,  and  I  find  that  he  treats  you  like  a 
brute  !  The  coward  knows,  that  you  have  no  man  to 
protect  you ;  no  father  or  brother.  Now  what  I  want 
to  say  is,  will  you  come  away  with  me? — I  know  it 
sounds  awful !  " 

She  looked  up  at  him  with  an  expression  of  dismay, 
and  uttered  an  inarticulate  gasp. 

"  But  let  me  explain."  As  he  went  on  steadily, 
the  man's  self-reliance,  instinct  of  possession  and 
authority,  became  evident.  "  You  will  travel  up  to 
London  and  meet  me  there — only  as  a  friend — leaving 
a  letter  for  Blagdon.  Tell  him  the  truth.  Tell  him, 
you  have  gone  away  with  me.  I  will  not  attempt  to 
defend  the  suit.  I  shall  leave  England  for  six  months, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  return,  and  marry  you." 

"  And  what  about  Cara  ?  "  she  asked  abruptly. 

"  You  must  leave  the  child  here.  I  suppose  Blagdon 
would  hardly  ill-treat  an  infant  of  that  age  ;  and  no 
doubt  his  sister  would  receive  her.  Perhaps  you  might 
be  allowed  to  keep  her  ?  I  don't  know  much  about 
these  sort  of  things.  I  only  know,  that  I  want  you  to 
break  your  bonds,  and  get  a  new  start  in  life.    Why 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  201 

you  are  barely  twenty  ! — think  of  the  fifty  years  that 
lie  before  you, — and  have  pity  upon  yourself !  " 

"  To  escape  from  Hugo — never  to  see  him  again — 
never  to  hear  his  voice,  to  meet  his  eyes,  would  be,  oh, 
such  overwhelming  joy — such  a  relief !  You  cannot 
think  how  much  I  am  afraid  of  him  ;  sometimes  he  is 
like  a  lunatic,  and  I  am  terrified  to  be  with  him  alone  ; 
and  yet  what  can  I  do  ?  How  can  anyone  come 
between  us — I  am  his  wife." 

"  /  will  come  between  you,"  said  the  young  man 
resolutely,  "  that  is,  if  you  care  for  me,  Letty  ?  " 

"  Yes  I  do  ;  I've  always  cared,"  she  answered,  in  a 
tremulous  voice.  "  But  think  of  your  father  and 
Frances,  my  greatest  friend,  and  Maudie  Hesketh,  and 
little  Cara,  to  have  a  mother  who  ran  away — and  oh, 
imagine  what  all  the  people  around  would  say  !  " 

"  The  people  around  would  say,  that  they  were 
astonished  that  you  didn't  make  your  escape  years 
ago.  Cara  is  but  an  infant,  she  will  have  her  own  life, 
she  is  the  daughter  of  a  rich  man  ;  you  are  not  called 
upon  to  sacrifice  the  whole  of  your  existence  to  her  ; 
you  have  a  right  to  live,  as  much  as  she  has  !  Mrs. 
Fenchurch  will  be  shocked — that  I  grant  you — but 
that  Maudie  Hesketh  and  my  sister  will  forgive  you 
— I  guarantee." 

"  No,  no,  no,  I  never  could  do  it — I  beseech  you 
not  to  tempt  me  !  "  then  without  another  word,  she 
suddenly  turned  into  a  side  path,  and  actually  ran 
away.  But  although  Letty  had  evaded  him  on  this 
occasion  Lancelot  Lumley  would  not  relinquish  his 


202  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

intention ;  he  knew  what  he  was  doing ;  he  took  into 
consideration  all  the  scandal,  the  talk,  and  the  injury 
that  it  would  cause  him  in  his  profession.  On  the 
other  hand,  he  thought  of  Letty :  they  would  be  so 
happy  together,  and  ultimately  they  would  live  it 
down  ! 

He  wrote  her  a  clear,  urgent,  and  impassioned 
letter,  putting  everything  plainly  before  her,  and 
imploring  her  to  leave  home. 

"  For  six  months  after  the  divorce  you  could  live  in 
some  quiet  seaside  or  country  place,  or  in  Switzerland. 
I  have  ample  money  to  provide  for  this.  I  will  of 
course  not  see  you,  and  I  shall  apply  for  an  exchange 
to  a  battalion  in  India  ;  when  the  decree  nisi  is  pro- 
nounced, all  our  troubles  will  be  over,  and  like  the 
people  in  the  fairy  tale,  we  shall  live  happy  ever  after." 

Before  the  end  of  the  week,  they  had  met  again  ; 
and  the  force  of  fear  and  love,  and  Lumley's  eloquent 
persuasion  ultimately  carried  the  day  ;  but  during 
this  week,  Letty  had  lived  in  a  palsy  of  indecision, 
painfully  conscious  of  the  debility  of  her  own  will. 
One  moment,  she  had  made  up  her  mind,  the  next 
she  changed  it ;  however,  after  a  decisive  interview, 
in  which  Lumley  said,  "  It  must  be  yes  or  no — now — 
for  I  am  going  away,"  with  a  white  face  and  trembling 
hps,  Letty  had  breathed  the  syllable  '  Yes.' 


CHAPTER    XIX 

TT  had  been  arranged  by  Captain  Lumley  that  he 
-*-  was  to  go  to  London,  where,  by  a  certain  train  and 
on  a  certain  day,  he  would  be  joined  by  Mrs.  Blagdon. 
In  this  short  breathing-space  Letty  had  much  to 
think  of,  and  accomphsh.  She  collected,  sorted,  and 
packed  some  clothes,  and  a  few  treasured  personal 
belongings  ;  but  abandoned  all  her  jewellery,  except 
one  or  two  trifling  ornaments,  a  string  of  pearls,  and 
her  uncle's  diamond  heart,  destroyed  the  whole  of  her 
innocent  correspondence,  put  the  photograph  of  her 
wedding  group  into  the  waste-paper  basket  in  four 
pieces,  and,  heaviest  task  of  all,  set  about  writing  letters 
to  her  aunt,  to  Frances,  and  to  Maude  Hesketh.  To 
her  she  said  : 

"  I  know  that  you  alone  realise  the  awful  life  I  have 
led  since  my  marriage,  and  will  pity  and  forgive  me. 
I  never  see  you  now,  and  I  am  shut  away  from  all  the 
world — not  a  wife,  but  a  prisoner.  Sometimes  last 
winter  when  Frances  and  her  father  were  at  Bourne- 
mouth, I  was  afraid  that  my  mind  would  have 
given  way  ;  the  loneHness  and  monotony  seemed  to 
deaden  m}'  brain.  Dear  Cousin  Maudie,  do  not  think 
too  badly  of  me,  and  love  me  still." 

The  leave-taking  epistle  destined  for  her  husband, 

203 


204  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

was  a  more  difficult  task  ;  how  many  sheets  of  paper 
were  destroyed,  before  she  had  succeeded  to  her 
satisfaction  ! 

Waggett  the  nurse  had  an  inarticulate  understand- 
ing with  her  master,  and  all  this  packing,  letter-writing, 
and  hours  of  weeping  in  the  nursery,  excited  her  sus- 
picions,— and  could  mean  but  one  thing.  When  Cara 
Was  asleep.  Miss  Waggett  slipped  down  to  the  village 
post  office  and  sent  a  telegram  to  Mr.  Blagdon's  London 
address,  which  said, '  Your  presence  required  urgently.' 

Blagdon,  who  was  on  the  eve  of  a  trip  to  Paris,  re- 
turned by  the  first  train — actually  passing  his  wife  on 
her  flight  to  London.  When,  in  a  ferocious  temper,  he 
arrived  at  Sharsley,  he  was  informed  that  Mrs.  Blagdon 
was  not  at  home,  had  left  at  twelve  o'clock  in  the 
village  fly,  taking  luggage  with  her.  Then  a  letter 
addressed  to  him  was  produced  ;  it  had  been  placed  in 
a  conspicuous  position  on  the  smoking-room  chimney- 
piece. 

He  snatched  this  from  the  old  man-servant's  hand, 
tearing  it  open  as  he  walked  away  ;  then,  glancing  over 
it,  he  slapped  his  great  thigh  and  exclaimed  exultantly : 

"  By  Gad,  she's  done  it  !    She's  done  it  !  " 

The  letter  began  : 

"  Hugo, 

"  I  am  to-day  leaving  this  house  for  ever.    To 

me  it  has  been  a  miserable  home.     I  can  no  longer 

endure  your  neglect   and   cruelty.     I   am  going  to 

Lancelot  Lumley,  and  you  are  free  to  take  any  steps 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  205 

you  please.  I  shall  be  thankful  to  be  released  from 
you,  and  you,  I  know,  will  be  glad  to  be  rid  of  me, 
since  you  have  so  often  told  me  that  you  wished  I  were 
dead.  Well,  in  future  we  shall  be  dead  to  one  another. 
I  need  not  ask  you  to  be  good  to  Cara  ;  it  breaks  my 
heart  to  leave  her,  but  it  breaks  my  heart  to  stay. 

"  Letty." 

"  By  Gad  !  "  he  repeated,  "  this  is  great  news  ! 
Dead  to  me — I  should  say  so,  the  little  puling  fool !  " 

In  a  condition  of  supreme  satisfaction  he  went  to  his 
writing-table  and  filled  a  number  of  telegraph  forms : 
one  of  these  was  a  long  one  to  his  lawyer,  others  were 
addressed  to  his  mother,  his  sister,  and  to  several  of 
his  chief  friends.  In  short,  a  dozen  wires  carrying 
the  startling  news  were  promptly  despatched  from 
Sharsley  Post  Office. 

(The  intelligence  was  received  in  various  fashions. 
Mrs.  Blagdon  wept  and  kept  her  room  :  she  was  growing 
old  and  feeble  ;  Lady  Rashleigh  said,  "  Hullo !  here 
is  a  nice  business  !  Letty  has  bolted  with  Captain 
Lumley.  I  wouldn't  have  believed  she  had  it  in 
her  !  "  and  Lord  Robert  who  was  present,  shouted 
his  usual  ejaculation,  '  My  hat  !  ') 

When  this  task  had  been  accomplished,  Mr.  Blagdon 
drained  a  four-finger  whisky  and  soda,  and  summoned 
the  housekeeper  to  his  presence. 

Bates  appeared,  was  much  on  the  qui  vive,  the  im- 
pression that  something  had  happened  was  obvious  to 
the  whole  household. 


206  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

"  Bates,"  he  began,  "  Mrs.  Blagdon  has — er — left 
here,  and  is  never  to  be  admitted  to  this  house  again. 
I  shall  probably  close  it  before  long.  You  can  put 
away  all  the  linen  and  china  and  that  sort  of  thing, 
and  pack  off  the  cook." 

"  Yes,  sir,  excuse  me,  but  it's  not  a  cook  we  have, 
but  a  kitchenmaid.  We  are  terribly  short-handed, 
only  old  Jenkins  for  man-servant,  a  boy  for  the  knives, 
and  one  housemaid.  The  big  rooms  are  all  in  an  awful 
state  of  dust,  and  with  them  old  tapestries  and  pic- 
tures, and  moth  and  damp,  I  expect  there's  a  lot  of 
damage  already.  We  had  no  fires  last  winter — 
and " 

At  this  point,  the  voice  of  her  complaint  was  inter- 
rupted by  a  succession  of  piercing  screams  immediately 
on  the  other  side  of  the  door. 

"  It's  only  Miss  Cara,"  explained  Bates  reassuringly ; 
"  she  is  just  in  from  her  walk." 

Miss  Cara's  papa  rose  from  his  chair  and  hastily 
entered  the  hall,  where  he  beheld  Waggett,  struggling 
with  an  animated  bundle  of  white  embroidery  and 
bare  legs,  which  had  cast  itself  down  upon  the  marble 
flags,  and  was  rending  the  air  with  uncontrolled  shrieks, 
and  even  squeals  of  passion. 

"  What's  all  this  ?  "  he  demanded  peremptorily. 

The  child  ceased  her  cries,  raised  her  tearless  face, 
and  stared  at  him  threateningly. 

"  I  want  my  mummy  !  "  she  shouted.  "  I  want  my 
own  mummy  !  " 

"  Your  mummy  isn't  here — be  quiet  this  moment." 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  207 

A  defiant  yell  was  Cara's  sole  answer. 

"  Shut  up — shut  up  at  once,  you  little  devil !  Do 
you  hear  me  ?  "  and  her  father  reached  down,  and 
shook  her  roughly  by  the  arm. 

Cara  surveyed  him  with  a  pair  of  rebellious  blue 
eyes,  then  drew  in  her  breath  and  screamed  with  a 
deafening  increase  of  shrill  and  reckless  fury.  Such 
were  her  efforts,  that  her  little  face  was  actually  purple 
and  congested,  as  she  drummed  on  the  marble  pave- 
ment with  the  heels  of  her  best  shoes. 

"  Go  'way  1  "  she  panted.  "  Go  'way — ugly  man — 
I  want  my  mummy  !  " 

"  /  know  what  you  want,  and  what  you'll  get  !  " 
cried  her  father,  beside  himself  with  anger,  and  snatch- 
ing her  up,  he  proceeded  to  administer  to  the  astonished 
Cara,  a  first  and  ruthless  chastisement :  carrying  out  the 
punishment  with  the  broad  palm  of  a  powerful  hand 
in  loud  and  resounding  smacks. 

The  subject  was  so  completely  dazed  by  the  experi- 
ence she  had  almost  ceased  to  cry,  merely  ejaculating : 

"  Bad  man  !    Bad  man  !    Bad  man  !  " 

Meanwhile  Nurse  Waggett  stood  by,  the  embodi- 
ment of  complacent  satisfaction,  till,  at  a  sign  from 
the  executioner,  she  took  over  her  gasping,  sobbing, 
bewildered  charge,  and  carried  her  off  to  her  own  apart- 
ments. Subsequently  the  threat,  "  I'll  bring  your 
father!"  had  a  magical  effect  upon  Miss  Caroline 
Blagdon :  he  remained  an  ineffaceable  impression  of 
awe  and  terror,  for  many  and  many  a  day. 

The  news  of  '  the  break-up  at  the  Court,'  as  it  was 


208  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

called,  was  all  over  the  village  by  eight  o'clock  that 
night  ;  women  ran  into  one  another's  houses  with 
'  Have  you  heard  ?  '  Men  discussed  the  matter  over 
their  half-pints  at  the  '  New  Plough,'  and  the  general 
verdict  was,  that  "  the  poor  young  lady  had  led  a  worse 
than  dog's  life,  and  he  had  been  rightly  served." 


CHAPTER    XX 

AND  now  to  accompany  the  fugitive  to  London. 
At  first,  the  mere  novelty  of  a  drive  to  the  station 
that  delicious  June  day,  and  the  unaccustomed 
journey  in  the  train  filled  her  with  a  sense  of 
overpowering  freedom ;  but  as  the  heavy  express 
thundered  along,  her  mind,  as  usual,  began  to  be 
uneasy  and  undecided  ;  her  thoughts  turned  insis- 
tently to  her  deserted  baby  girl,  and  the  more 
she  reflected,  the  more  she  felt  drawn  to  Cara — 
and  by  her  very  heart  strings ! 

When  Mrs.  Blagdon  stepped  out  on  the  London 
platform,  it  was  a  woebegone  young  woman,  with  a 
white  and  frightened  face,  that  encountered  the  glad 
eyes  of  her  awaiting  lover, — who  instantly  recognised 
that  his  beloved  had  recently  passed  through  some 
great  emotional  storm,  and  that  her  courage  had  been 
sorely  shaken  by  this,  the  most  daring  venture  of  her 
existence.  Here  was  a  different  Letty  to  the  one  who  had 
danced  with  him  so  gaily  at  the  Brakesby  Ball,  and 
skimmed  over  the  ice  on  Batley  Mere ;  she  was  a  girl 
radiant  with  youth  and  expectant  happiness,  looking 
out  on  the  future  with  brave  and  shining  eyes.  This 
Letty,  with  her  pathetic  expression  and  tremulous 
lips,  recalled  some  poor  wild  bird  with  a  broken  wing, 
p  209 


210  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

and  he  realised  that  he  must  treat  her  with  extra- 
ordinary tact  and  tenderness. 

They  went  together  in  search  of  her  luggage,  which 
turned  out  to  be  of  surprisingly  modest  dimensions, 
and  in  keeping  with  its  owner's  costume.  Wearing  a 
simple  white  linen  and  a  plain  shady  hat,  Letty  might 
be  the  daughter  of  a  curate,  or  a  clerk,  instead  of  the 
wife  of  a  fabulously  wealthy  man  ;  but  her  companion 
understood  ;  she  wished  to  leave  Blagdon  as  she  had 
gone  to  him — empty  handed.  With  a  lover's  memory, 
he  recognised  her  little  turquoise  brooch,  and  a  certain 
thin,  old-fashioned  locket. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  pair  were  in  a  hansom  thread- 
ing their  way  to  the  Cosmopolitan.  Letty,  sitting  very 
far  back  in  her  corner,  with  a  rigid  profile  and  tightly 
clasped  hands.  It  was  more  than  two  years  since  she 
had  been  in  London,  and  the  noise,  the  trafific,  the 
varied  sights,  and  the  josthng  crowds,  struck  her  in 
forcible  contrast  to  the  silence  and  emptiness  of  the 
country. 

After  a  long  and  sensitive  silence,  Lumley  said  : 

"  Letty,  you  look  terribly  pale  and  tired.  I  am 
afraid  you  feel  knocked  up  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  I'm  not  tired,"  she  answered  ;  "  but  so 
thirsty,  I  can  scarcely  speak." 

"  We  will  have  tea  the  moment  we  get  to  the  hotel. 
It's  just  half-past  five  now.    I've  taken  rooms  there." 

"  Rooms,"  she  repeated,  looking  at  him  with  a 
vacant  gaze. 

"  Yes  ;  in  my  name,  and  what  will  one  day  be  yours." 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  211 

and  he  lifted  one  of  her  hands  and  kissed  it.  "  Rooms 
for  Captain  and  Mrs.  Lumley." 

The  future  Mrs.  Lumley  dragged  away  her  hand,  and 
made  no  reply  ;  her  face  flamed,  no  one  could  call  her 
pale  now. 

"  Letty  Lumley  goes  rather  well,"  continued  her 
companion,  unabashed  ;  "  and  here  we  are — come 
along  !  "  helping  her  out  ;  then  proceeding  up  the 
steps  he  ushered  her  into  the  entrance  of  the  hotel. 
They  passed  through  a  great  hall,  entered  a  spacious 
lift,  and  were  whirled  to  the  first  floor,  where  they  were 
evidently  expected.  A  ready  man-servant  came  for- 
ward with  (as  it  seemed  to  the  lady)  significant  em- 
pressement,  and  threw  open  the  door  of  a  lofty  sitting- 
room,  furnished  with  heavy  silk  curtains,  tall  mirrors 
between  the  windows,  a  soft  dark  carpet,  Oriental  vases, 
cabinets,  lounges,  and  luxurious  chairs.  A  formal,  ex- 
pensive apartment,  somewhat  stiff  and  gloomy,  but 
made  beautiful  with  flowers. 

"  All  the  flowers  you  like  best,  Letty,"  explained 
Lumley,  as  the  man  departed  with  an  order  for 
tea,  "  every  one  of  your  favourites,  to  bid  you 
welcome." 

"  Yes,  lovely,"  she  faltered.  "  How — thoughtful  of 
you  !  ' '  and  she  buried  her  face  in  a  great  bowl  of  roses 
and  carnations.  How,  she  asked  herself,  was  she, 
the  coward  of  cowards,  to  tell  Lancelot  the  truth  ? 
She  raised  her  eyes,  and  was  confronted  by  a  Chinese 
incense  burner ;  a  monster  in  bronze,  a  sort  of  demon 
dog,  with  a  high  spiral  tail,  and  a  flat,  diabolical  head. 


212  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

which  confronted  her  on  an  opposite  cabinet,  with  a 
hideous  grin. 

The  bronze  demon,  as  if  alive  and  malignant, 
appeared  to  mock  her,  and  say : 

"  You  know  you  cannot  do  it,  you  little  born  fool !  " 

She  turned  away,  and  looked  out  of  the  window, 
with  misty  eyes  and  a  fluttering  heart — aware  that, 
her  life  had  reached  a  desperate  climax ! 

How  could  she  tell  Lancelot,  so  loyal,  so  chivalrous, 
and  devoted,  that  she  had  changed  her  mind  in  the 
train,  and  was  determined  to  return  to  Cara  by  the 
half-past  eight  express  ? 

In  spite  of  her  most  determined  efforts,  tears  dropped 
on  her  blouse,  and  Lancelot,  who  had  been  anxiously 
watching  her,  drew  her  tenderly  towards  him,  and  as 
she  sobbed  on  his  shoulder  said,  '  There,  there,  there  !  ' 
as  if  he  were  comforting  a  child.  Steel  herself 
against  her  lover  as  she  might,  his  presence  affected 
her  deeply. 

"  I  understand  all  about  it — this  has  been  an  awful 
wrench  for  you,  a  terrible  day  ;  but  now  you  must 
look  forward,  not  backwards  any  more.  The  future  is 
ours,  and  I  have  ever  so  much  to  say  to  you." 

"  And  I  to  you,"  she  murmured,  drawing  away  from 
him,  and  drying  her  eyes  as  she  spoke.  She  glanced 
nervously  about  the  room — a  room  to  be  imprinted  on 
her  memory  as  long  as  memory  existed :  for  here  she 
must  part  with  Lancelot,  and  for  ever.  It  would  be, 
so  to  speak,  a  chamber  of  death,  and  at  the  thought 
she  shuddered.    How  morbid  she  was  growing,  or  was 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  213 

she  a  little  mad  ?  There  was  that  grinning  devil  con- 
fronting her,  with  wide-open  jaws,  flattened  ears,  and 
staring  eyes,  and  the  background  of  this  lofty, 
heavily  furnished  apartment  seemed  to  weigh  upon  her 
senses  ;   the  perfume  of  the  roses  to  stifle  her. 

"  Here  is  tea,"  announced  Captain  Lumley.  "  Shall 
I  pour  it  out  and  bring  it  over  to  you  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  thank  you,"  rising  and  taking  off  her 
gloves  ;  "  but  if  you  would  open  the  windows  ?  " 

"  Won't  you  take  your  hat  off  ?  " 

She  hesitated  for  a  moment  and  murmured  : 

"  My  hair  is  so  untidy." 

But  ultimately  unpinned  her  hat,  and  threw  it  on  a 
sofa  ;  it  would  not  take  long  to  put  on  again. 

Then  she  sat  down  and  began  to  busy  herself  with 
the  cups  and  saucers,  and  her  companion  noticed  how 
her  hand  was  shaking.  The  buoyancy  of  his  spirits 
was  by  this  time  somewhat  crushed.  Letty  was  taking 
it  hardly  ;  she  was  so  sensitive.  But  after  she  had 
had  tea,  and  was  a  little  refreshed,  they  would  discuss 
their  plans  ;  meanwhile  he  would  talk  any  nonsense 
to  amuse  and  distract  her. 

"  This  is  a  fine  room,"  he  said,  looking  about,  "  and 
an  Ai  hotel.  Did  Frances  ever  tell  you  about  Cousin 
Toby  and  his  bride  ?  No  ?  Well,  he  and  Rosa  funked 
the  honeymoon  abroad ;  it  was  winter,  and  they 
wanted  to  stay  in  town  and  do  theatres  and  have  a 
good  time  ;  but,  of  course,  their  relations,  who  were 
in  London,  barred  it — said  they  must  do  the  orthodox 
thing.     Huwever,  the  two  laid  their  plans,  were  seen 


214  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

off  at  Victoria  with  due  pomp,  got  out  at  Cannon 
Street,  and  sneaked  back  here  in  great  glee,  and  would 
never  have  been  found  out  but  for  Rosa's  umbrella  ; 
it  was  full  of  rice  and  dripped  grains  all  over  the  stairs 
and  place.  The  poor  innocents  never  knew,  till  they 
saw  themselves  among  the  fashionable  arrivals  ;  but, 
I  say,  Letty,  you've  eaten  nothing  !  Do  have  some  of 
these  strawberries  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  thank  you." 

"  Feel  better  after  your  tea  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  I  was  so  thirsty,  and  my  head  ached  ;  but 
now  I'm  all  right."  She  put  up  her  hands  to  her 
beautiful  hair,  and  he  noticed  that  she  was  still  wearing 
her  wedding  ring. 

"  Well,  now  shall  I  explain  things  a  little,  or  will 
you  talk  first  ?  " 

"  Do  you  please  begin."    (Anything  for  a  respite.) 

"  Then  may  I  have  a  cigarette  ?  " 

"  Of  course  you  may." 

Lumley  rose  and  took  out  his  case,  and  began  to  walk 
restlessly  about  the  room  ;  he  was  one  of  those  men 
who  rarely  sit  down. 

"  I've  arranged  matters  all  right  ;  seen  our  man  of 
business,  Ross,  and  had  a  tremendous  jaw  with  him." 
(He  did  not  mention  what  a  strenuous  interview  it  had 
been,  and  how  the  old  family  lawyer  had  exhausted  his 
wit,  his  eloquence,  and  his  temper,  in  endeavouring, 
as  he  hoped,  to  turn  the  young  idiot  from  his  folly  ; 
from  rushing  headlong  into  social  and  professional 
extinction. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  215 

The  idea  of  young  Lumley,  whom  he  had  known  as 
a  remarkably  bright,  clever,  steady  boy,  running  off 
with  a  married  woman, — the  wife,  too,  of  such  a 
well-known  character  as  Hugo  Blagdon !  What,  he 
asked  him,  would  his  father  and  sister  say  ?  And 
how  could  he  take  a  divorced  wife  into  his  regiment  ? 

But  it  had  all  been  a  useless  waste  of  brain  tissue, 
breath,  and  temper.) 

"  It  will  be  plain-sailing,  Letty,  now  we  have  burned 
our  boats  ;  perhaps  we  had  better  dine  downstairs,  so 
as  to  be  seen  together  on  account  of  the  case." 

"  No,  no,  no,"  half  rising,  and  looking  at  him  with  a 
startled  expression. 

"  But,  my  darling  Letty,  unless  you  are  divorced,  how 
can  you  marry  me  ?  We  must  give  some  just  cause, 
for  them  to  go  on  ;  I'm  not  sure  that  it's  cricket — a 
faked  elopement — but  I  see  nothing  else  for  it  ;  and  I 
understand  there  is  no  getting  over  the  fact  of  a  private 
sitting-room :  so  I've  taken  this,"  nodding  at  himself 
in  one  of  the  long  mirrors  between  the  windows.  "  To- 
night, I  shall  return  to  my  own  diggings,  and  you  will 
have  the  suite  to  yourself.  To-morrow,  we  will  go 
down  to  Broadstairs,  I've  secured  rooms  for  you  there. 
I'm  afraid  we  won't  see  much  of  one  another  till  the 
decree  nisi  is  out  ;  the  case,  of  course,  will  be  unde- 
fended ;  our  lawyers  will  arrange  matters  very  quietly 
and  try  and  keep  the  business  out  of  the  papers.  We 
shall  have  to  wait  six  months,  and  then,  Letty,"  and 
his  voice  had  a  ring  of  irrepressible  joy,  "  we  will  be 
married  !  " 


216  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Letty  attempted  to  speak,  but  he  put  up  his  hand. 

"  Of  course,  it's  a  maddening  wait,  but  can't  be 
helped.  I'm  going  to  Moscow  to  study  Russian  all  the 
time,  and  I'll  write  to  you  every  day,  and  you  to  me. 
You  might  go  abroad  if  you  liked.  Mrs.  Hesketh  has 
promised  me  to  befriend  you.  I've  been  down  to  see 
her  ;  she  blames  herself  for  this,  says  she  brought  us 
together — not  much  bringing  wanted  on  my  part,  eh, 
Letty  ?  "  And  he  paused  and  laughed,  a  short  excited 
laugh. 

"  And  what  about "  she  was  beginning. 

"  Just  wait  one  second,  till  I  finish  my  innings  ;  I'm 
wound  up  like  a  clock.  Oh,  yes,  I  know — the  regiment. 
I've  arranged  for  an  exchange  to  another  in  India — 
that's  settled,  and  it  is  all  right  about  money,  too. 
Did  you  hear  that  I  came  in  for  a  legacy  this  spring. 
I  have  enough  for  us  both  ;  to-morrow,  I'll  open  an 
account  for  you  at  Cox's.  This  is  only  the  bald, 
commonplace  outline — and  now,"  coming  to  a  stand- 
still before  her,  "  I've  hnished  at  last,  and  it's  your 
turn.  What,"  he  asked  with  a  smile,  "  have  you  got 
to  say  ?  " 

"  I've  got  to  say,"  and  she  rose  and  faced  him  with 
a  face  white  as  death,  "  that — that — I  cannot — do  it  ! 
No,"  speaking  with  dry  lips,  "it's  no  use — my  heart 
has  failed  me,  and  /  am — going  back." 

Lumley's  amazement  was  such,  that  he  was  dumb ; 
twice  he  opened  his  mouth  to  speak,  but  only  his 
breathing  could  be  heard.   At  last  he  stammered  out : 

"  Letty,  you  are  not  in  earnest, — you  carmot  return ; 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  217 

the  worst  is  over,  and  I  shall  never  let  you  go — never  ; 
consider  that  settled." 

"  Oh,  but  you  must — you  must  !  "  she  cried,  twist- 
ing her  hands  together.  "  I  screwed  up  my  courage — I 
wrote  those  farewell  letters — I  wrote  to  him,  and  I  left 
home — it  seems  years  ago  ;  but  before  I  was  half-way 
to  town  I  had  repented.  Yes,"  speaking  between  short 
dry  sobs,  "  you  know  my  besetting  faihng ;  always 
standing  at  the  cross  roads.  This  time,  I  have  made 
up  my  mind — I  am,"  and  she  gave  a  great  sob, 
"  sure  of  myself.  I  love  you,  dear,  dear  Lancelot, 
but  if  we  carried  out  your  plans,  we  should  be 
miserable." 

"  No  we  shouldn't,"  he  broke  in  with  hasty 
emphasis  ;  "  on  the  contrary,  for  the  first  time  for 
years,  you  will  know  what  it  is  to  be  free  and  young 
and  happy  ;  you  will  live  like  others  of  your  own  age, 
and  enjoy  a  little  sunshine." 

Looking  at  Letty  as  she  stood  with  her  back  to  the 
window,  it  seemed  incredible  that  this  shm  young  girl, 
was  already  a  wife  and  mother. 

"  The  sun,  you  mean,  would  never  shine  on  me,"  she 
replied.  "  All  the  time  I  would  be  thinking  of  Cara, 
wearying  to  see  her,  and  feeling  the  most  terrible 
remorse.  Is  there  anything  in  the  whole  world,  that 
can  hurt  like  that  ?  " 

Lumley  made  no  reply,  he  was  struggling  hard  to 
keep  his  emotion  well  under  control,  and  she  continued 
tremulously  : 

"  No  one  will  ever  know  of  this  madness  of  mine — 


218  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

no  one  but  you.  Hugo  does  not  come  to  Sharsley  for 
months  and  months ;  as  soon  as  I  get  back,  I'll  destroy 
my  letter  to  him,  the  others  as  well — they  were  to  be 
posted  to-morrow.  There's  the  mail  train  at  half-past 
eight,  and  I  shall  easily  catch  it." 

As  she  concluded,  she  picked  up  her  hat,  and  put  it 
on  mechanically. 

Meanwhile  Lumley  stood  listening  to  her,  watching 
her  keenly,  and  assuring  himself  that  in  the  coming 
struggle  between  two  wills,  the  victory  must  go  to  the 
strong. 

"  I  am  pleading  as  much  for  your  sake  as  mine,"  she 
resumed,  looking  at  him  with  wistful  dignity,  and  not 
a  little  daunted  by  his  continued  silence. 

"  Think  of  your  poor  father,  who  is  so  proud  of  you  ; 
think  of  Frances,  who  is  devoted  to  you — and  to  me. 
Think  of  my  poor  little  Cara,  that  I  would  be  deserting 
for  ever." 

"  It  is  too  late  to  talk  of  these  things  now,  Letty," 
he  answered  inflexibly.  "  How  can  you  suggest  re- 
turning to  a  fellow  that  deserts  you,  and  treats  you 
brutally  and  cruelly ;  a  man  that  you  regard  with 
shuddering  repulsion?"  He  was  resolved  to  hit 
hard. 

"  Oh,  Lancelot,  don't !  "  wincing  and  turning  away; 
"  if  you  only  knew.  I'd  go  with  you  to  the  world's 
end — I  would — but  for  the  child.  Yes;  in  spite 
of  your  father's  grey  hairs,  and  your  sister's  con- 
fidence and  affection  ;  but  there  is  something  that  I 
cannot  explain,  and  that  you  would  not  understand ;  it 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  219 

is  the  mother  in  me,  that  is  drawing  me  back — yes,  and 
I  am  going." 

"  No  !  "  said  Lumley  sllddenl5^  walking  across  the 
room,  and  placing  his  back  against  the  door.  "  You 
don't  leave  London  to-night — talk  of  madness — that 
would  be  madness  indeed  !  " 

His  face  looked  stern  and  very  pale  ;  he  had  braced 
himself  as  for  a  life  and  death  struggle. 

"  Yes,  I  will  prevent  you,  and  by  all  means  in  my 
power,  short  of  force.  /  know  what  is  best  for  you  ; 
I  am  not  thinking  of  myself, — but  of  you,  now.  You 
know  I  love  you  too  well,  Letty,  to  do  anything  that 
would  harm  you — but  to  allow  you  to  escape  to  that 
life  of  misery,  would  be  a  crime.  A  crime,  against  your 
youth  and  your  happiness  ;  you  talk  of  Cara,  what  is 
she  but  a  baby  of  three,  and  you  are  one-and-twenty  ? 
Why  is  she  to  devour  the  whole  of  your  future  ?  She  is 
pretty,  she  is  a  rich  man's  daughter,  as  far  as  I  could 
judge,  has  a  strong  will ;  the  world  will  go  well  with 
her.  Suppose  you  sacrifice  yourself,  will  she  give  up 
her  best  years  to  you,  and  are  you  to  have  no  life  of 
your  own  ?  As  it  is,  you  are  like  some  beautiful  flower 
that  has  been  kept  in  a  dark  room  till  its  colour  has 
been  bleached,  and  its  vitahty  is  perishing.  If  this 
existence  continues,  what  will  you  be  in  twenty  years?" 

"  Dead,  I  hope,"  she  answered  sharply,  then  with  a 
flash  of  unexpected  passion,  "  but  dead  or  alive,  I 
am  going  to  stick  to  Cara." 

"  No  you  are  not,"  he  rejoined  with  gathering  excite- 
ment.   "  You  are  going  to  stick  to  me,  and  till  death 


220  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

us  do  part."  Visibly  shaken  by  the  force  of  his  own 
speech,  he  added  hoarsely  :  "  Letty,  you  have  escaped 
from  bondage,  be  thankful  for  your  freedom !  " 

"  It  is  for  you,  Lancelot,  to  release  me,"  she 
declared,  "  and  help  me  to  escape  from  here ;  from 
a  situation  that  will  bring  disgrace  on  me — and  mine." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  ?  "  he  demanded  fiercely, 
leaving  his  post,  and  coming  a  step  nearer. 

"  Yes,  I  do,"  she  assented  with  a  set  wooden  face, — 
the  face  of  a  woman  of  double  her  age.  "  Lancelot,  let 
me  pass.  If  you  stand  in  my  way,  and  prevent  my 
returning  home  I — I — swear  I  will  never  forgive  you." 

"  If  I  had  stood  in  your  way  four  years  ago,  as  I 
ought  to  have  done — my  home  would  be  yours.  If  I 
let  you  pass  now,  I  know,  that  I  shall  never  set  eyes 
on  you  again." 

His  handsome  tanned  face  had  taken  a  curious  clay- 
coloured  shade  ;  little  drops  of  sweat  stood  on  his 
forehead. 

"  Think  again,  for  God's  sake  !  "  His  voice  rose, 
vibrating  with  passion.    "  Have  mercy  on  yourself." 

"  Myself !    No  ;  /  don't  count !  " 

"  Nor  I  ?  Letty,  has  it  occurred  to  you,  what  an 
awful  fool  you  have  made  of  me  ?  " 

It  was  true  ;  she  had  sacrificed  him  as  pitilessly  as 
herself — this  only  struck  her  now.  For  her  sake 
Lancelot  had  given  up  his  regiment,  thrown  his  pros- 
pects to  the  winds,  risked  the  loss  of  his  friends. 

"I  know,"  she  stammered  at  last,  "I  have  cost 
you  a  great  deal — far,  far,  too  much.   Lancelot,  I'm  not 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  221 

72>orth  it  !  I  am  a  miserable,  cowardly,  half-hearted 
creature — and  now — let  me  go — oh  do — I  implore 
you,  let  me  go  !  " 

As  they  stood  staring  into  one  another's  eyes,  a 
languid  gilt  clock  on  the  mantel-piece,  struck  eight. 

Lumley  started,  their  discussion  had  absorbed  more 
time  than  seemed  possible — he  moved  aside  and  said 
in  a  muffled  tone,  "  Well — if  you  must — you  must !  " 

Letty  came  closer  to  him — ^his  drawn  stricken  face 
affected  her  profoundly.  She  seized  his  hand  in  both 
of  hers,  and  suddenly  broke  down. 

"  Good-bye,  Lancelot ;  good-bye,"  she  sobbed 
hysterically.  "  I  know  you  will  despise  me,  and 
forget  me ;  but  as  long  as  I  live  I  shall  love  you, 
better  than  anyone  in  the  whole  world — better  than 
Cara.  But  my  duty  is  to  her  ;  if  I  went  with  you, 
I  should  always,  always,  be  looking  back." 

"  Poor  Letty,  I'll  try,  and  forgive  you,"  he 
answered  huskily ;  "  but  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart,  I  believe  you  are  spoiling  two  lives ;  and  the 
day  may  come,  when  you  will  find  it  hard  to 
forgive  yourself,"  and  with  a  violent  wrench  he 
opened  the  door. 

It  was  a  strangely  pale  and  agitated  couple  who 
descended  into  the  great  hall,  and  a  few  minutes  later 
drove  away  to  the  station :  a  waiter  going  into  the 
empty  room,  found  too  late,  that  the  lady  had 
forgotten  a  very  damp  pocket-handkerchief,  and  a 
handsome  umbrella  with  a  gold  handle,  on  which 
was  inscribed,  "  Mrs.  Blagdon,  Sharsley  Court." 


222  THE   SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

On  their  way  down  Piccadilly  Captain  Lumley  and 
his  companion,  encountered  a  steady  stream  of  hansoms 
carrying  their  gay  fares  to  dinners  or  the  theatres. 
The  two,  who  held  one  another's  hands  in  agonised 
silence,  seemed  to  be  journeying  away  from  life,  and 
all  its  joys,  and  facing  together — a  dark  and  hopeless 
future. 

As  soon  as  Letty  had  secured  her  ticket  she  said  : 

"  We  will  say  good-bye  now,  Lancelot — please  don't 
come  on  the  platform.  You  know  this  is  the  fast 
train — and  I  may  meet  neighbours." 

And  there,  under  the  flaming  lamps,  in  the  ugly, 
bare  booking-office,  came  to  these,  who  were  so  much 
to  one  another,  that  transcendent  moment  of  a 
miserable  and  silent  farewell.  As  Letty  looked  up  into 
her  lover's  face,  her  heart  felt  a  piercing  stab  ;  she 
had  once  encountered  a  poor  lost  dog,  with  the  self- 
same expression  in  its  eyes. 

A  moment  later,  she  was  hurrying  along  the  plat- 
form, asking  for  the  train  to  Ridgefteld? 

"  Sorry,  miss,"  replied  an  official,  "  but  you've  just 
missed  her,"  indicating  a  round  red  light  that  was 
vanishing  into  a  tunnel ;  and  the  runaway  had  lost  her 
only  opportunity  of  returning  home  that  night  !  This 
discovery  was  a  shock :  she  felt  vanquished — and  half 
distracted,  but  recovering  her  courage,  and  summoning 
her  wits  to  her  assistance,  she  made  over  her  luggage 
to  a  porter,  and  departed  in  quest  of  a  bedroom 
in  the  Terminus  Hotel. 


CHAPTER    XXI 

MR.  BLAGDON  was  a  late  riser  ;  on  this  par- 
ticular morning  it  was  eleven  o'clock  as  he 
stood  lathering  his  great  sensual  face,  in  front  of  a 
shaving-glass.  The  operation  was  but  half  completed, 
when  his  valet  entered,  and,  clearing  his  throat,  said  : 
"  Beg  pardon,  sir,  but  Mrs.  Blagdon  has  just  arrived 
and  is  asking  to  see  you." 

Blagdon's  somewhat  shaky  hand  slipped,  and  gave 
his  chin  a  gash.  When  he  had  carefully  plastered  it 
up,  he  turned  to  the  man,  with  an  alarming  scowl. 
*'  Jenkins  didn't  let  her  in,  did  he  ?  " 
"  Yes,  sir,  he  did.  She's  in  the  morning-room." 
"  That'll  do  !  "  said  his  master  in  a  voice  of  thunder, 
and  he  continued  his  toilet  with  a  determination  that 
he  would  sack  Jenkins  instantly,  and  turn  his  wife 
out  of  the  house.  But  before  taking  these  drastic 
steps,  he  must  breakfast.  He  went  heavily  downstairs, 
unfolding  a  large  scented  pocket-handkerchief,  and 
stalked  into  the  dining-room  ;  here  he  was  served  with 
devilled  kidneys,  dry  toast,  and  two  strong  whiskies 
and  sodas.  Thus  fortified,  he  approached  with  loud, 
resonant  footsteps,  the  morning-room,  where  the 
culprit  awaited  him  in  shivering  expectation :  and 
flinging  the  door  wide,  entered  like  an  avenging  fate. 

223 


224  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  Well,  ma'am,  I  shall  be  glad  to  know  what  the 
devil  brings  you  here  ?  "  he  demanded.  "  The  servants 
had  orders  not  to  admit  yon.  Old  Jenkins  shall  be 
kicked  out  to-morrow  !  " 

"  Hugo,"  she  said,  rising,  and  vainly  endeavouring 
to  steady  her  voice,  "  of  course,  I  know  that  after 
the  letter,  which  no  doubt  you  have  read,  my  coming 
back  like  this  must  seem  astonishing." 

"  Outrageous  !  Scandalous  !  "  he  burst  in.  "  \Vhy, 
it's  absolutely  shameless!  " 

"  But  the  truth  is,  before  I  got  half-way  to  London 
I  had  changed  my  mind.  I  found  that  I  couldn't  leave 
Cara,  and  so  when  I  met  Captain  Lumley  I  told  him 
this,  and  in  spite  of  all  he  could  urge,  I  refused  to  take 
the  final  step.  We  remained  talking  together  too  long, 
and  I  just  missed  the  last  train — the  mail.  I  had  said 
good-bye  to  him  before  that,  and  I  went  to  the 
station  hotel  and  spent  the  night  there,  and  came  on 
the  first  thing  this  morning.  Hugo,  I  swear  to  you 
that  I  am  speaking  the  truth." 

"  \Vhat  a  fine  cock-and-bull  story  !  "  he  answered, 
with  a  sneer.  "  We  have  heard  of  people  missing 
their  trains  before.  I'm  surprised  that  you  and  Lumley 
between  you,  couldn't  think  of  something  a  little 
fresher  I  " 

"  But  you  believe  me,  Hugo  ?  "  she  implored,  "  and 
I  may  come  back  ?  " 

"  No,  I'm  damned  if  you  shall !  Come  back,  indeed  ! 
I  got  your  letter  yesterday,  and  telegraphed  at  once 
to   my  lawyer.     You  shall  be,  as  you  said  yourself, 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  225 

dead  to  me, —  and  I  shall  be  dead  to  you.  I  am 
not  likely  to  put  up  with  a  woman  who  informs  me 
she  is  going  off  with  a  lover — and  no  doubt  has  a  row 
with  him,  finds  she  hasn't  bettered  herself, — and 
turns  up  at  home  the  next  day.    By  Jove,  no  !  " 

"  But  where  am  I  to  go  ?  "  she  asked  piteously. 
"  What  am  I  to  do  ?  I  swear  to  you,  that  I  am  as 
innocent  as  Cara  herself — at  least,  you  will  let  me  see 
her  ?  " 

"  Not  I  !  And  now,  madam,  we  have  had  enough 
of  this,"  and,  taking  her  roughly  by  the  arm,  he  led 
her  from  the  anteroom,  out  into  the  great  hall, — the 
door  of  which  happened  to  be  open.  Without  a  word 
he  pushed  her  violently  across  the  threshold,  and 
slammed  the  door  upon  her. 

The  fly  and  luggage  had  disappeared,  there  was 
no  one  in  sight,  as  the  ejected  wife  went  slowly  down 
the  steps,  and  slowly  down  the  avenue,  as  if  she  were 
walking  in  her  sleep  ;  this  unexpected  blow  had  been 
so  staggering,  that  it  momentarily  stunned  her. 

Meanwhile  Blagdon,  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets, 
stood  in  the  window  of  the  hall,  which  commanded  a 
full  view  of  the  short  entrance  drive,  his  eyes  fixed  on 
the  receding  figure.  When  he  saw  her  approach  and 
pass  through  the  great  gates,  making  her  final  and 
ignominious  exit,  he  muttered  under  his  breath, 
"  She's  gone !"  diiid  then  he  went  back  to  the  smoking- 
room,  selected  one  of  his  best  cigars,  and  sat  down 
to  meditate  upon  his  future  plans, 

Frances  Lumley,  who  happened  to  be  crossing  the 
Q 


226  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

village  square,  halted  when  she  beheld  her  friend. 
What  had  happened  ?  Why  this  white,  stricken  face  ? 
She  held  out  her  hand,  and  enquired  : 

"  Is  anything  the  matter  ?  " 

For  a  moment  the  unhappy  girl  seemed  to 
choke  ;  then — she  stammered  :  "  Yes — Hugo  has 
just  turned  me  out  of  the  house." 

"  Turned  you  out  !  Oh,  my  poor  Letty  !  Then  you 
will  come  home  with  me,  of  course  ?  "  And  as  she 
spoke,  she  took  her  arm. 

It  was  but  a  few  3'ards  to  the  Rectory,  and  as 
they  walked  up  the  avenue,  Letty  halted  abruptly, 
and  said  : 

"  I  don't  think  I  should  come  here,"  releasing  her 
friend,  and  supporting  herself  by  a  railing  that 
bordered  the  drive. 

"  Nonsense  !  " 

**  But,  Frances,  you  don't  know.  It  was  because  of 
your  brother  that — that — Hugo  has  cast  me  off." 

"Because  of  Lancelot!"  exclaimed  Miss  Lumle}', 
suddenly  disconcerted ;  her  colour  rose,  her  eyes 
dilated. 

"  Yes,"  said  Letty,  and  then — she  added,  in  short, 
gasping  sentences  :  "I  ran  away  to  him  yesterday  to 
London — but  I  changed  my  mind.  I  could  not  desert 
Cara. — I  came  back.  Hugo  had  retiu-ned  suddenly, 
and  read  my  letter,  and  took  me  by  the  shoulders, 
thrust  me  out,  and  slammed  the  door  on  me.  I  feel 
sure  he  will  try  and  divorce  me  !  " 

Frances'  clear  mind  grasped  a  subject  quickly.   WTiat 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  227 

a  disastrous  affair  for  Lancelot  !  What  was  to  be 
done  ?  Obviously  the  first  step  was  to  take  Letty 
into  the  house — she  looked  ghastly. 

"  Brother  or  no  brother,"  she  said — stifling  her  own 
dismay — "  you  must  come  and  stay  with  us,  and  pull 
yourself  together.  Matters  may  not  be  as  bad  as  you 
think." 

"  They  are — and  it's  all  my  fault.  I  have  ruined 
your  brother,  and  disgraced  myself,  and  Cara  !  " 

This  speech  brought  her  into  the  Rectory  door, 
which  stood  wide,  and  she  tottered  into  a  chair  in  the 
hall,  and  fainted  away. 

As  soon  as  the  refugee  had  been  restored  and  put 
to  bed  in  the  spare  room,  Frances,  a  woman  of  action, 
wrote  off  to  Mrs.  Hesketh  and  to  her  brother,  and 
despatched  a  note  to  Bates  at  the  Court  with  a  request 
for  Mrs.  Blagdon's  luggage.  Then  she  proceeded  to 
explain  matters  to  her  invalid  father,  who  was  en- 
chanted to  hear  that  Mrs.  Blagdon  was  staying  with 
them — though  he  could  not  quite  understand  how  it 
was,  that  she  should  be  in  his  house  and  not  her  own ; 
but  his  resourceful  daughter  satisfied  his  curiosity, 
and  told  a  lie,  with  the  one  simple  word  '  Drains  !  ' 

Exhausted  by  bodily  fatigue  and  mental  emotion, 
Letty  slept  soundly  till  the  church  clock,  striking 
nine,  roused  her  from  a  sleep,  that  had  bordered  upon 
stupor.  Where  was  she  ?  asked  recovering  conscious- 
ness. The  scene  was  strange,  and  beautiful — a  wide- 
open  window,  the  perfume  of  flowers,  above,  in  the 
summer  sky,  a  slim  young  moon.    Was  she  dead,  and 


228  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

was  this  house  Heaven  ?  Suddenly,  with  a  torrential 
rush,  black  memory  overwhelmed  her. 

During  the  next  twenty-four  hours,  Frances  Lumley 
was  all  that  a  sister,  and  more  than  some  sisters  would 
be,  to  the  unhappy  refugee.  She  consoled,  soothed, 
cheered  her, — keeping  her  own  tremors  respecting 
Lancelot  entirely  out  of  sight.  Then  Mrs.  Hesketh 
appeared  upon  the  scene,  and  carried  her  friend  away 
to  Oldcourt.  Francie  Lumley  was  a  dear  girl,  with  a 
heart  of  gold,  but  it  was  not  seemly  that  Mrs.  Blagdon 
should  be  her  guest,  with  the  case  of  Blagdon  v. 
Blagdon  and  Lumley,  imminent  in  the  Law  Courts. 

It  soon  became  noised  abroad  that  Blagdon  was 
about  to  divorce  his  wife,  and  mothers  with  daughters, 
once  more  began  to  cast  expectant  ej^es  on  Sharsley. 


CHAPTER   XXII 

THE  case  of  Blagdon  v.  Blagdon  and  Lumley 
divided  the  County  into  factions  and  separated 
chief  friends.  Some  said,  that  now  they  thoroughly 
understood  why  Blagdon  was  reluctant  to  produce  his 
wife  in  Society  ;  obviously  she  was  mentally  unsound 
— a  woman  who  ran  away,  and  returned  to  him  the 
next  day  !  She  had  been  a  shy,  odd  creature  from  the 
first.  The  opposition  were  violent  partisans,  and 
declared  that  a  girl  so  young,  pretty,  and  innocent, 
had  been  driven  to  desperation  by  the  brutality  of  her 
monster  of  a  husband.  It  was  a  curious  but  not  un- 
common circumstance,  that  most  of  the  women  took 
the  part  of  the  man ;  whilst  the  men-folk,  and  in  great 
numbers,  were  solid  for  the  lady. 

Letty's  few  relatives  lived  in  Ireland,  and  were  not  a 
little  shocked  to  learn  of  her  being  mixed  up  in  a  scandal. 
They  hid  the  paper  from  their  friends,  and  discussed 
their  black  sheep  in  horrified  whispers.  The  character 
of  Mr.  Blagdon  had  not  been  wafted  across  the  Irish  sea. 

When  the  newly  married  couple  were  in  London, 
one  or  two  of  the  Irish  clan  had  attempted  to  make 
their  cousin's  acquaintance — not  because  she  had  made 
a  great  match,  but  that  it  was  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
poor  Dermot's  daughter,  and  blood  is  thicker  than 

229 


230  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

water.  However,  their  civil  advances  were  rudely  re- 
pulsed by  Hugo  (who  hated  the  Irish  as  a  nation)  and 
did  not  want  to  be  bothered  with  a  pack  of  his  wife's 
relatives ;  and  they  merely  saw  a  heavy-browed,  for- 
midable personage,  and  a  pretty,  shy  girl  with  stiff 
manners.  And  now  this  pretty,  shy  girl  had  come  to 
grief — wealth  and  importance  had  turned  her  silly 
little  head.    It  was  a  pity  ! 

The  Blagdon-Lumley  case,  was  entirely  circum- 
stantial, and  the  chain  of  evidence  complete  ;  the 
petitioner,  a  wealthy  man ;  no  enterprising  legal  firm 
came  forward  as  a  speculation  to  take  up  the  co-re- 
spondent's side,  and  the  suit  was  undefended.  Lumley 
had  again  repaired  to  Mr.  Ross  (Ross,  Carbery  &  Co.), 
and  told  a  plain,  unvarnished  tale,  assuring  them  of  the 
lady's  innocence  on  his  solemn  word  of  honour.  The 
firm  listened  with  agreeable  sympathy,  but  declared, 
that  there  was  nothing  to  be  done,  but  face  the 
consequences  of  an  act  of  folly.  Mrs.  Blagdon  had  run 
away  from  her  husband,  leaving  a  letter  of  confession  ; 
she  had  joined  their  client  in  London  openly,  and  left 
the  hotel  in  his  company.  It  was  true,  that  she  had 
repented,  and  next  day  presented  herself  at  home  in 
the  character  of  a  reformed  wife  ;  but  it  wouldn't  do — 
no,  it  would  not  do. 

"  I  understand,  that  she  is  extraordinarily  good- 
looking,"  added  Mr.  Ross,  "  and  that  might  give  her  a 
chance  with  the  jury  ;  but  if  you  will  take  my  advice, 
Captain  Lumley,  and  speaking  in  the  character  of  a 
friend,  you  will  not  attempt  to  defend  the  case.    The 


THE  SERPENT'S   TOOTH  231 

less  mud-throwing  the  better— all  can  be  arranged 
between  Mr.  Blagdon's  lawyers  and  ourselves  ;  at  the 
end  of  six  months  there  will  be  the  usual  decree,  and  I 
take  it  for  granted,  that  you  will  marry  the  lady  ?  " 

But,  as  it  happened,  the  lady  absolutely  refused  to 
marry  Lumley.  For  some  time  she  had  been  in  a  state 
of  collapse,  under  the  roof  and  the  care  of  her  friend  at 
Oldcourt.  She  seemed  to  be  in  a  dazed  condition,  her 
recent  experience  appeared  to  have  exercised  an  almost 
paralysing  effect  on  her  thinking  faculties,  and  when 
she  recovered,  and  was  informed  that  the  trial  was 
over,  that  Hugo  had  generously  settled  five  hundred  a 
year  upon  her,  and  she  was  free  to  marry  again ;  she 
assured  Maude  Hesketh  and  Mrs.  Denton  that  nothing 
in  the  world  would  induce  her  to  do  so.  No  arguments 
affected  her,  and  she  positively  declined  to  see  Lancelot 
Lumley. 

"  I  have  done  him  enough  harm  as  it  is,"  she  pleaded, 
"  and  I  only  hope  he  may  forget  me." 

So  Captain  Lumley  went  out  to  his  new  regiment, 
which  was  quartered  in  Peshawur,  with  an  empty 
pocket,  a  sore  heart,  and  a  somewhat  damaged  reputa- 
tion. 

It  is  perhaps  needless  to  mention,  that  Mrs.  Fenchurch 
did  not  spare  the  culprit  when  she  came  to  Oldcourt  to 
visit  and  upbraid  her.  Letty  sat  listening  and  gazing 
in  helpless  silence,  whilst  her  aunt  had  her  '  say.' 
After  a  vigorous  arraignment  of  her  conduct,  and 
her  shameful  abandonment  of  a  splendid  position, 
she  concluded  : 


232  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  I  merely  came  to  tell  you,  that  I  wash  my  hands 
ni  you,  Letty,  and  I  am  thankful  that  my  poor  dear 
husband  did  not  live  to  see  this  day.  I  have  one  piece 
of  advice  to  give  you,  and  that  is,  that  you  marry 
Captain  Lumley.  I  believe  he  is  ready  to  make  you 
his  wife — go  out  to  him  in  India,  and  remain  there.  I 
understand  that  as  Society  in  the  East  is  only  too  well 
accustomed  to  scandals  and  divorces,  you  will  probably 
be  received,  and  enabled  to  make  a  fresh  start.  Thanks 
to  Hugo's  generosity,  and  with  a  captain's  Indian  pay, 
you  will  be  quite  comfortably  off." 

To  all  this  advice  the  inquisitor  received  no  reply, 
and  rising  red-faced  from  her  seat,  she  added  angrily  : 

"  I  see  it's  no  use  talking  to  you  for  your  good.  You 
are  in  one  of  your  tempers.  I  had  intended  offering 
you  your  uncle's  P.  &  0.  trunks ;  but  I  shall  do  nothing 
further — good-bye  !  " 

To  the  friendless  divorcee.  Cousin  Maude  played  the 
part  of  a  good  and  rich  Samaritan.  As  it  was  winter 
time  she  took  her  to  the  Riviera,  but  Letty  still  exhibited 
a  lack  of  energy  and  indifference  to  her  surroundings, 
which  was  disheartening  to  her  companion  ;  however, 
by  degrees,  sunshine,  peace,  and  youth  had  their  effect, 
and,  as  a  crushed  flower  in  water,  she  revived.  Her 
beauty  and  grace  were  remarkable.  She  had  at  last 
'  come  into  her  own,'  and  was  now  a  lovely  girl — no 
longer  the  pallid,  cowed  bride  of  four  years  previously. 
Since  then,  she  had  experienced  matrimony,  misery, 
love — real  love — and  disgrace  ;  also  the  tardy  realisa- 
tion of  her  uwn  endowment. 


THE   SERPENT'S    TOOTH  283 

If  in  former  days,  Blagdon  was  bitterly  disappointed 
by  his  wife's  insignificance,  Mrs.  Hesketh  was  now 
proportionately  amazed  at  her  success ;  by  the  many 
staring  eyes  that  followed  her  companion,  the  eclat, 
the  sensation  she  created  was  quite  remarkable — the 
girl  was  much  too  conspicuous  for  a  divorcee  in  retreat. 

Kind,  generous  Maude  Hesketh,  though  sincerely 
attached  to  her  protegee,  was  not  without  certain 
human  weaknesses.  She  was  inclined  to  be  pessi- 
mistic, analytical,  inquisitive,  and  occasionally  a  little 
irritable.  In  her  secret  heart  she  felt  both  sore  and 
envious  ;  she  had  been  a  notable  beauty  in  her  time, 
and  although  she  had  never  encouraged  admirers,  yet 
was  keenly  alive  to  the  homage  of  their  eyes.  To-day, 
all  these  looks  and  whispers  were  for  another ;  whilst 
she  was  merely  a  well-preserved,  elderly  woman,  to 
whom  no  one  threw  a  second  glance.  She  had  accepted 
admiration  as  her  right,  and  she  now  felt  as  if  she  had 
lost  her  youth  for  a  second  time  ! 

For  good  and  sundiy  reasons,  the  two  ladies  kept 
themselves  in  strict  seclusion  ;  they  occupied  a  private 
sitting-room,  and  went  out  in  a  private  carriage  with 
a  pair  of  capital  horses.  Now  and  then  Mrs.  Hesketh 
came  across  acquaintances,  who  glanced  interroga- 
tively at  her  graceful  companion.  As  a  rule  she  made 
no  introductions,  but  when  these  could  not  possibly 
be  avoided,  she  murmured  the  name  of  "  Mrs. 
Glyn." 

Among  the  other  guests  at  the  "  Calafornie,"  Cannes, 
was  a  certain  needy,  worldly  widow,  Mrs.  Plassy — Mrs. 


234  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Bolingbroke-Plassy  with  a  lively  daughter  of  two-and- 
twenty. 

This  widow,  made  vahant  attempts  to  attach  herself 
to  Mrs.  Hesketh, — who  was  notoriously  rich,  had  the 
air  of  a  duchess,  and  a  charming  landau  at  her  disposal ; 
it  was  also  known  to  her,  that  the  most  distinguished 
people  in  Cannes  had  left  cards  upon  this  lady.  But 
]\Irs.  Hesketh — who  could  play  the  grandc  dame  to  per- 
fection, had  '  no  use  '  for  Mrs.  Plassy,  mistrusted  her 
worming  civilities,  her  subdued  flatteries,  and  kept 
her  inflexibly  at  arm's  length.  The  pretty  companion 
was  more  approachable  (Letty  could  never  repulse  a 
dog,  much  less  a  fcllow-crcaturc),  and  she  and  Miss 
Plassy,  drawn  together  by  their  youth,  and  tastes, 
played  tennis,  and  sang  duets.  The  innocent  soprano 
little  suspected  how  deeply  and  sincerely  she  was 
hated  by  the  contralto  ;  she  thought  Lydia  a  pleasant, 
lively,  unaffected  girl,  and  if  her  mother  was,  as 
Cousin  Maude  declared,  an  inquisitive,  marauding 
'  old  soldier,'  what  harm  did  it  do  to  anyone  ? 

'  The  old  soldier  '  had  deeply  resented  Mrs.  Hesketh's 
uncompromising  repulse  ;  her  animosity  was  kindled, 
and  she  instituted  searching  enquiries  into  the 
lady's  career, — which  proved  to  be  blameless  ;  but, 
to  her  amazement,  pretty,  shrinking  Mrs.  Glyn,  had  a 
very  black  record  !  The  fact  leaked  out — through  a 
treacherous  lady's-maid — that  this  pretty  girl  was  no 
less  a  person  than  the  notorious  and  divorced  Mrs. 
Blagdon  !  Fortunately  the  friends,  were  on  the  point 
of  departure  for  San  Remo,  for  Mrs.  Plassy  mentioned 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  235 

the  discovery,  as  a  dead  secret,  to  every  woman  of  her 
acquaintance  in  the  hotel, — and  they  all  held  up  their 
hands  in  speechless  horror. 

At  the  end  of  six  months  Mrs.  Hesketh  returned 
home,  and  by  that  time  the  great  local  scandal  had 
been  succeeded  by  others,  and  was  more  or  less  for- 
gotten. Mr.  Blagdon  was  said  to  be  in  America  ; 
Captain  Limiley  was  in  India  ;  no  one  knew  the  where- 
abouts of  the  lady.  She  was  hving  quietly  in  a  country 
town  thirty  miles  south  of  London,  occasionally  spend- 
ing a  few  days  at  Oldcourt,  but,  on  the  whole,  alone.  To 
occupy  her  time  she  had  taken  up  music,  and  worked 
liard ;  practising  with  a  view  to  becoming  a  professional 
singer.  As  Mrs.  Glyn,  a  solitary,  pretty  young  woman, 
she  made  no  acquaintances,  with  the  exception  of  two 
or  three  elderly  women  in  the  same  hotel,  who  regarded 
her  as  an  interesting  mystery  ;  she  could  not  be  a 
widow,  since  she  wore  no  scrap  of  mourning — pre- 
sumably she  had  a  husband, — but  where  ?  She  kept 
herself  conspicuously  aloof  from  other  people, — and 
why  ? 

All  the  time,  this  much-discussed,  unhappy  stranger, 
was  filled  with  a  simple  human  craving  to  see  her 
child  again — to  hold  her  in  her  arms.  To  have  her 
with  her,  had  become  a  sort  of  obsession.  At  night  as 
she  lay  awake  and  weeping,  she  seemed  to  hear  her 
forsaken  baby,  forlorn  and  helpless,  crying  to  her 
across  the  darkness.  She  had  sacrificed  all  for  Cara — 
and  lost  her  ! 


CHAPTER    XXIII 

MAYTHORNE.'  where  Mrs.  Glyn— formerly  Blag- 
don — had  hidden  her  dinxinished  head,  was  a 
line  old  red-brick  mansion  standing  in  its  own  grounds 
and  meadows,  and  within  thirty  miles  of  London.  Once 
the  family  seat  of  a  well-known  banker,  it  was  now  the 
successful  investment  of  a  syndicate,  and  a  more  or 
less  glorified  hotel,  boasting  (in  a  not  untruthful  ad- 
vertisement) of  its  splendid  situation,  salubrious  air, 
far-famed  gardens,  comforts,  and  cows. 

When  Letty,  fearing  that  her  company  was  beginning 
to  irk  her  friend,  and  reluctant  to  return  to  Thornby, 
had  implored  Mrs.  Hesketh  to  find  her  a  quiet  haven, 
Mrs.  Hesketh's  friends,  had  recommended  her  to 
Maythorne.  In  late  spring  and  early  summer,  the 
iMaythorne  guests  were  dull  and  commonplace : 
various  invalids,  lame,  bhnd,  and  halt,  with  their 
nurses  ;  girls  or  boys  brought  for  change  after  the 
usual  measles  or  whooping  cough  ;  old  maids  and 
widows  ;  who  knitted  and  gossiped  and  paced  the 
broad  walks  in  couples,  took  tea  in  little  coteries, 
and  devoted  their  evenings  to  cribbage,  and  patience. 

To  these,  the  arrival  of  a  strikingly  beautiful  girl,  a 
married  woman,  alone,  without  even  a  maid,  offered  a 
nice  fresh  topic  for  discussion.     '  Mrs.  Glyn  '  looked 

336 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  287 

about  nineteen,  had  a  private  sitting-room,  and  was 
ver}/  reserved — but  when  addressed,  discovered  a  sweet, 
low  voice,  and  timid  manners.  She  had  no  visitors, 
and  there  was  rarely  a  letter  for  her  in  the  hall  rack. 
Mrs.  Glyn  sang  delightfully,  and  went  twice  to  church 
on  Sundays  ;   and  this  was  all  that  could  be  found  out. 

By  degrees,  the  stranger  came  to  know  various  other 
women,  especially  two  of  them — the  oldest  residents, 
who  made  a  point  of  speaking  to  everyone, — these  were 
friendly,  and  invited  her  to  tea,  and  taught  her  'demon ' 
patience,  and  borrowed  her  Spectator  ;  but  Sister  Sophy 
and  Sister  Mary,  were  painfully  inquisitive,  and  she  was 
not  sufficiently  subtle  to  evade  their  polite  and  in- 
sidious enquiries, — or  to  avoid  disaster  in  the  cunning 
pitfalls  they  so  skilfully  laid  with  regard  to  her  '  home.' 
Letty  instinctively  felt,  that  her  answers  were  unsatis- 
factory, and  withdrew  from  their  society  as  impercep- 
tibly as  she  dared,  contenting  herself  with  the  company 
of  the  hotel  dog,  who  attended  her  in  her  country  walks, 
and  took  tea  with  her  most  afternoons. 

Maythorne  was  an  irregular  old  house,  renovated ; 
with  white  paint,  modern  furniture,  and  pretty  chintz  ; 
its  ceilings  were  low,  its  stairs  shallow,  and  in  the  long 
passages  were  imexpected  steps.  Letty's  apartments 
were  detached,  she  had  selected  them  on  purpose, 
that  she  might  play  and  sing  without  disturbing  her 
neighbours. 

Around  the  house  were  smooth  lawns  of  turf,  winding 
paths  and  alleys  among  laurels  and  rhododendrons  ; 
here  and  there  a  noble  forest  tree,  and  clumps  of  rose- 


238  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

trees,  and  high  delphiniums  of  a  royal  and  dazzling  blue, 
and  here  Letty  spent  many  an  hour  with  a  book,  her 
own  thoughts,  and  the  infatuated  Toby.  As  June 
melted  into  an  unusually  warm  July,  the  number  of 
guests  increased  ;  day  by  da}^  one  noted  new  faces ; 
large  famil}^  parties,  father,  mother,  boys  and  girls, 
who  preferred  the  country,  with  golf,  tennis,  picnics, 
and  bicycling,  to  the  seductions  of  the  seaside.  The 
term  of  '  week-end  '  had  not  yet  been  coined,  but  the 
actual  thing  existed ;  and  many  city  men  ran  down 
from  town  from  Friday  to  Monday  for  golf,  fresh  air, 
and  good  country  food.  Maythorne  had  also  a  reputa- 
tion for  '  pretty  girls.'  By  all  accounts,  there  was  a 
wonderful  beauty  staying  there  now  ;  she  sat  in  a 
niche  near  the  far  door  and  was  alone.  Also  it  was  a 
case  of  '  paws  ofi !  '  and  the  lady  always  got  out  of  the 
room  before  the  dessert,  and  disappeared. 

It  was  true  Mrs.  Glyn  got  out  of  the  room  '  before 
the  dessert,'  those  staring  eyes  frightened  her,  and  she 
slipped  away  to  a  certain  remote  seat  in  the  ground, — as 
yet  undiscovered  by  others, — and  there  contemplated 
the  undulating  country,  whose  fresh  green  pastures, 
dark  woods,  and  delicate  blue  distances,  seemed  to 
act  as  balm  upon  an  open  wound. 

"  But  what  is  the  good  of  it  all  ?  "  she  would  mur- 
mur (a  phrase  caught  from  Cousin  Maude).  Why  had 
she  been  born  ?  where  was  her  place  in  the  world  ? 
No  wife,  and  no  widow  ;  her  child  taken  from  her  ;  no 
home,  and  but  two  friends,  Frances  and  Cousin  Maudie 
— an  encumbrance  to  both  !     Frances,  the  sister  of 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  239 

Lancelot,  must  know  how  she  had  spoiled  her  brotlier's 
hfe ;  how  could  she  endure  her  ?  Cousin  Maude,  with 
her  self-centred  existence  (out  of  which  her  divorce  had 
figuratively  torn  her),  had  once  more  retreated  into 
her  shell.  School-fellows,  Irish  cousins,  which  of  these 
would  venture  to  know  her, — a  divorcee  ?  And  who 
could  blame  them  ?  She  thought  of  the  other  girls 
here  :  happy  girls  of  her  own  age  ;  from  her  nook,  she 
could  hear  gay  voices  and  laughter  on  the  croquet 
ground,  but  she  might  not  mix  with  them ;  the  old 
ladies  had  spoken — they  could  associate  with  her — not 
so  the  young  people. 

Two  girls,  who  happened  to  hear  her  singing,  were  en- 
tranced ;  and  eagerly  made  friends  with  the  performer  ; 
but  when  their  portly  mothers  noticed  them  strolling  in 
the  grounds,  with  Letty  in  the  middle,  animated,  and 
discoursing  of  music, — ^in  answer  to  an  imperative  signal, 
she  found  herself  suddenly  deserted.  Mrs.  Glyn  was 
not  to  be  'known,'  that  was  too  painfully  evident  ; 
and  the  '  mystery  '  walked  on  alone,  holding  her  head 
unusually  high,  acutely  conscious  that  she  was  taboo  ! 
and  filled  with  an  angry,  straining  against  circum- 
stances, and  against  fate. 

"  She  does  look  so  pretty,  and  so  innocent ! "  admitted 
a  wealthy  matron,  "  and  I  admire  her  enormously 
as  a  picture — not  otherwise.  These  '  butter-would- 
not-melt-in-my-mouth '  class  are  notoriously  dan- 
gerous !  " 

To  some  of  the  men,  Mrs.  Glyn  was  naturally  all 
the  more  attractive,  because  of  the  ladies'  veto ;  these 


240  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

were  only  too  anxious  to  cultivate  her  acquaintance, 
but  she  shrank  from  their  neighbourhood,  and  treated 
their  anxious  overtures,  with  discouraging  hauteur. 
Although  she  had  youth,  beauty,  health,  and  five 
hundred  a  year,  what,  she  asked  herself,  did  it  avail, 
a  woman  with  a  past,  and  without  hope,  or  future  ? 
If  she  only  had  the  necessary  courage,  she  might 
follow  the  example  of  a  recent  suicide,  and  scribble  on 
a  card,  '  No  home,  no  friends — Exit,'  and  then  go 
and  drown  herself  ;  it  would  be  a  simple  ending  to  all 
her  troubles,  and  her  hopeless  yearnings  for  Cara,  and 
for  Lancelot.  Her  thoughts  of  him,  were  inexpressibly 
painful,  and  tinged  with  acute  remorse.  Over  and 
over  again,  she  recalled  his  stricken  face,  and  stern 
accusation,  "  Letty,  you  have  made  a  fool  of  me,"  and 
this  was  true — a  pitiless  and  unanswerable  fact. 

WTien  the  moon  arose,  and  the  bats  began  to  flit  about 
the  garden,  the  mysterious  beauty  would  repair  to  her 
own  quarters,  and  there  seek  for  sympathy  in  her  piano. 
She  sang  not  only  well-known  songs,  but  verses  she 
had  set  to  music.  The  air  of  one  composition  was 
peculiarly  sad  and  haunting,  and  two  City  men  who 
were  strolling  about  together — discussing  the  market 
prices — halted,  attracted  by  a  beautiful  voice  which 
floated  from  an  open  window.  As  they  stood,  and 
listened,  this  is  what  fell  on  their  ears. 

"  Ou  vivre  ?     Dans  quelle  ombre 
Etouffer  mon  ennui  ? 
Ma  tristesse  est  plus  sombre 
Que  la  nuit. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  241 

"  Ou  mourir  ?     Sous  quelle  onde 
Noyer  mon  deuil  amer? 
Ma  peine  est  plus  profonde 
Que  la  men 

"Oufuir?     De  quelle  sort 
Egorger  mon  remord  ? 
Ma  douleur  est  plus  fort 
Que  la  mort." 

As  the  last  words  died  away,  one  of  the  audience 
gave  himself  a  vigorous  shake,  carefully  examined 
his  half-finished  cigar,  and  exclaimed  : 

"  By  George  !  that  young  woman  must  be  in  a  bad 
way — eh  ?  I  wonder  who  she  is  ?  She  is  singing  like 
one  of  those  sirens  that  bothered  old  what's-his-name. 
Shall  we  clap — eh  ?  " 

"  No,"  with  prompt  emphasis,  "  the  girl  is  singing — 
and  her  voice  is  exquisite — like  some  unhappy  soul 
who  has  lost  everything  in  the  world." 

"  Oh,  Bosh  !  you  and  your  romantic  fancies  !  Come 
along  indoors  and  have  a  game  of  billiards.  I'll  give 
you  twenty  up  !  There  will  be  no  more  songs, — see, 
she  has  turned  down  the  light." 

"All  right,  I  see,"  agreed  the  man  of  sentiment, 
as  he  reluctantly  followed  his  challenger. 

The  morning  after  this  incident,  a  letter  from  Frances 
Lumley  not  only  distracted  Letty's  thoughts,  but 
carried  her  away  from  Maythorne.  The  stimulating 
news,  which  was  in  the  postscript,  said  : 

"  I  have  just  heard  that  little  Cara  and  her  new 
nurse  have  gone  to  Folkestone.    The  child  had  measles, 

R 


242  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

but  is  now  quite  well ;  however,  Doctor  Griffen 
ordered  sea  air  and  change.  Last  time  I  saw  her  she 
was  prettier  than  ever,  and  looked  like  a  little  angel." 

Within  five  minutes  Cara's  mother  was  whirling  over 
the  pages  of  an  A  B  C.  She  too  would  go  to  Folkestone 
and  see  her  baby  at  all  hazards.  A  new  nurse — what 
a  chance  !  She  wired  for  rooms  at  one  of  the  hotels, 
packed  up  her  boxes,  paid  her  bill,  and  the  following 
day  effected  an  early  departure,  arriving  at  Folkestone 
the  same  evening.  Here  at  least,  she  would  be  breathing 
the  same  air  as  her  darling. 

An  early  hour  the  next  morning  found  Mrs.  Glyn  on 
the  Leas,  and  as  the  month  happened  to  be  July  these 
were  crowded.  For  two  whole  days,  among  nurses 
and  perambulators,  she  sought  in  vain  for  Cara.  At 
last,  in  a  block  near  the  band  shelter,  she  descried 
her  treasure — attended  by  a  buxom  nurse,  with  a 
gaudy  magazine  tucked  under  her  arm ;  Letty  hovered 
around,  or  paced  to  and  fro,  till  at  last  nurse  and  pram 
moved  slowly  away,  and  she,  following  at  a  discreet 
distance,  discovered  that  they  lodged  in  rooms  not  far 
from  her  own  hotel.  Her  next  move  was  to  endeavour 
to  make  the  nurse's  acquaintance,  and  this  she  ac- 
complished by  sitting  beside  her  on  a  bench  over- 
looking the  sea,  and  offering  timid  remarks  about  the 
weather,  and  admiration  of  the  sleeping  child. 

The  nurse  (with  visions  of  Sharsley  to  support  her) 
was  inclined  to  be  haughty  and  stand-off,  but  when 
she  had  scrutinised  the  young  lady,  and  her  well-cut 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  243 

costume,  her  pretty  hat,  and  good  new  gloves,  she 
thawed  so  far  as  to  admit  that  the  '  weather  was  a 
treat,'  and  to  accept  the  loan  of  an  illustrated  paper. 

Letty,  as  she  gazed  at  her  sleeping  child,  was  so 
overcome  with  emotion,  tliat  she  was  impelled  to  get 
up  suddenly,  and  walk  away ;  but  presently  returned 
as  the  moth  to  the  candle,  and  with  a  steady  voice 
informed  the  nurse,  that  "  she  was  fond  of  children, 
and  that  the  little  girl  reminded  her  of  someone." 

"  There  is  one  o'clock  striking,"  said  nurse,  "  and 
that  reminds  me  that  it's  time  for  our  dinner  !  Here's 
your  paper,  miss,  and  thank  you." 

"  Oh,  please  keep  it,  I  don't  want  it  back  !  I  have 
any  quantity  of  magazines,  and  books." 

"  I  do  love  reading,  and  specially  magazines  ;  but 
I  can't  well  leave  this  child  to  go  and  buy  things — 
you  see,  I'm  single-handed." 

"  I  will  lend  you  magazines  with  pleasure,"  volun- 
teered this  kind  stranger.  "  Shall  you  be  on  the 
front  to-morrow  ? 

"  Yes,  miss,  at  eleven,  and  if  you  can  spare  me 
something  lively — I  love  murders — I'll  be  obliged  to 
you.  I  am  a  bit  lonely  now  ;  a  nurse,  my  friend,  went 
yesterday.  The  family's  gone  over  to  Boulogne,  and  I 
don't  have  any  talk  with  them  boarding-house  servants 
— they're  no  class  ;  I  won't  deny  that  I'm  sociable, 
but  I'm  suspicious  of  strangers,  and  as  to  who  I  know." 

"  Of  course,"  assented  Letty,  "  so  am  I — especially 
as  I  am  here  by  myself." 

"  Oh,   indeed  !  "   with   a  quick  inquisitive  glance, 


244  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

and  then  this  pretty  nameless  young  lady  proceeded 
to  inform  her,  that  she  was  waiting  to  be  joined  by  a 
relative,  with  whom  she  was  going  on  the  Continent  ; 
for,  as  she  sat  beside  this  unsuspicious  woman,  Letty 
had  made  up  her  mind  to  run  away  with  the  child ! 
and  was  already  maturing  her  plans. 

Presently  Cara  awoke.  She  was  a  beautiful  little 
girl  of  four,  and  as  she  opened  her  eyes,  and  stared  up 
at  the  face  bending  over  her,  to  that  lady's  horror, 
and  yet  also  to  her  joy,  she  ejaculated  "  Ma-ma  !  " 

Her  mother  felt  inclined  to  burst  into  tears,  but 
struggled  to  subdue  her  feelings,  which  found  relief 
in  a  wild,  hysterical  laugh. 

"  Aye,  she  takes  you  for  her  mamma,"  explained 
the  nurse.  "  Every  nice-looking,  fair  young  lady,  is 
'  mamma.'  The  poor  little  thing  has  no  mother,"  she 
added  in  a  low  aside.  "  Could  you  believe  that  any 
woman  with  a  heart  in  her  body,  could  desert  that  ?  " 

'  That  '  was  still  drowsy,  and,  lulled  by  the  soft 
air  and  the  distant  band,  had  once  more  closed  her 
forget-me-not  blue  eyes,  and  fallen  asleep. 

Letty  realised  that  her  self-control  was  slipping  from 
her  altogether,  and  with  a  hurried  excuse  of  '  letters,' 
rose,  and  returned  to  her  hotel.  Each  morning  and 
afternoon,  she  sought  out  the  ruddy-faced,  brown- 
eyed  nurse,  with  the  smart  white  perambulator,  and 
her  efforts  to  ingratiate  herself  with  an  uneducated, 
chattering,  kind-hearted  woman,  were  almost  those  of 
a  timid  lover,  seeking  to  propitiate  his  mistress.  She 
was    compelled   to   listen   with   averted   face,   whilst 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  245 

Smithson  volubly  related  to  her  her  own  history — as 
reported  and  edited  in  the  servants'  hall. 

"  The  child  is  like  her  mother,  they  do  say ;  any- 
way, in  face.  I  never  saw  her — I'm  a  new-comer.  He 
is  very  ordinary :  an  ugly  blue-and-red  sort  of  colour, 
and  twenty  years  older  than  his  wife.  She  was  just  a 
slip  of  a  schoolgirl,  and  by  all  accounts  it  was  not  so 
much  her  fault — left  alone  for  months  in  that  great 
lonely  barrack  of  a  place.  They  say  the  day  after  she 
ran  off,  she  repented  and  came  back,  and  he  just 
threw  her  out !  No  one  knows  the  rights  of  the  story, 
— or  where  she  is  now." 

Naturally  these  confidences  were  agonising  to  the 
shrinking  listener,  who  stared  out  on  the  shining  sea, 
and  faint  Frenah  coast-line,  with  a  rigid  profile ;  or 
bent  down  her  head,  to  finger  the  flounces  of  Cara's 
doU. 

It  was  an  indescribable  relief  when  Nurse  Smithson 
selected  another  topic,  and  disclosed  to  her  companion 
in  glowing  terms,  the  glories  of  Sharsley,  and  the  wealth 
of  its  master.  She  gave  luxuriant  descriptions  of  the 
park,  the  size  of  the  grounds,  the  fame  of  the  pictures, — 
but  kept  back  the  fact,  that  the  house  was  almost 
closed,  and  that  the  shooting  had  been  let.  Then  she 
interrupted  her  tale  to  exclaim  : 

"  Well,  I  never  did  see  a  young  lady  so  fond  of 
children  as  you  are, — miss,  and  the  child  has  taken  to 
you  too  !  Some  day,  you  will  be  having  one  of  your 
own,  I  hope,  and  you  will  make  a  fine  fuss  with  her,  or 
I'm  mistaken." 


246  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Letty  looked  at  her  through  bhnding  tears,  then, 
startled  by  her  companion's  gaze  of  speechless  amaze- 
ment, she  hastily  explained  that  "  the  glare  of  the  sun 
on  the  sea  was  so  dazzling,  that  it  always  made  her 
eyes  water  !  " 


CHAPTER    XXIV 

FOR  more  than  a  fortnight,  every  morning  and 
every  afternoon,  Cara's  mother  and  nurse  fore- 
gathered by  appointment  :  sometimes  at  the  band  on 
the  Leas,  sometimes  along  the  shady  Lower  Road  ; 
and  here  Lett}^  would  wheel  the  perambulator.  Her 
admiration  for  the  child  was  mutual,  and  she  was 
terrified,  lest  the  nurse  should  wonder  why  the  little 
thing  was  always  so  ready  to  come  to  her,  and  why 
she  invariably  called  her  '  Mamma.' 

"  I  am  sure,  you  must  be  like  her  mother,"  said 
Smithson,  "  and  that  is  why  little  Cara  takes  to  you. 
Aye,  and  they  do  say,  that  she  was  wrapped  up  in  her. 
Mr.  Blagdon,  he  don't  care  a  brass  farthing  about  the 
child,  and  was  main  angry,  that  miss  Cara  wasn't  a 
boy.  He  never  comes  to  Sharsley,  and  the  place  was 
that  dreary,  the  old  nurse  give  notice — she  was  a 
vinegar-faced  one,  if  you  like,  and  they  do  say  was  a 
spy  on  the  lady.  It  was  Lady  Rashleigh — Mr.  Blagdon 's 
sister — that  engaged  me.  She's  a  funny  one,  with  a 
big  face  and  a  loud  voice  ;  it  was  her  notion  sending 
the  child  down  here,  and  later  on,  maybe,  she's  coming 
herself.  She  don't  care  for  Miss  Cara — says  we  have 
her  spoiled.  What  do  you  say  to  that,  missy  ?  Some- 
times, you  are  a  very  naughty  little  girl,  you  know  " 

247 


248  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

(missy,  drowsy  and  indifferent,  closed  her  big  blue 
eyes).  Then  the  nurse  lowering  her  voice,  proceeded  : 
"  Sometimes  she  looks  like  a  little  angel,  doesn't  she  ? 
But  other  times,  I  tell  you,  you'd  think  it  was  a  little 
devil  you  had  to  deal  with  !  Of  course,  there  being 
no  lady,  it's  a  responsible  situation,  and  I've  no  nurse- 
maid, as  you  see  ;  it's  a  good  place,  and  the  wages  is 
first-class.  Sixty — only  for  that,  I  never  would  stand 
the  loneliness — and  the  child." 

Horrified  and  indignant,  Letty  took  the  part  of 
lier  offspring,  and  replied  : 

"  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  lonely  living  in  the  corner 
of  a  great  big  house,  with  only  Cara  for  your  constant 
companion  :   but  then  the  child  is  such  a  darling  !  " 

"  Eh,  miss,  you've  heard  the  saying,  '  All  is  not 
gold  that  glitters '  ?  This  one,  will  give  somebody  a 
rare  time  yet  ;  the  best  of  her  is  all  on  the  outside  ; 
inside,  she  is  just  a  greedy,  selfish,  treacherous,  little 
monkey  !  " 

"  Oh,  nurse,  how  can  you  say  such  dreadful  things 
of  a  poor  innocent  baby  ?  I  expect,  that  in  your  heart 
you  really  don't  care  about  children.    Now  do  you  ?  " 

"  Well,  of  course,  miss,  it's  only  to  you,  a  stranger, 
I  would  say  what  I  do ;  it's  not  likely,  I'd  tell  this  to 
one  of  her  relations,  and  her  auntie  is  down  enough  on 
her  as  it  is.  She  sees  through  her  arts,  when  we  stay  with 
her  in  Town,  and  has  given  her  some  rare  good  smack- 
ings, I  can  tell  you  !  To  you,  as  I  say,  being  a  stranger, 
she  is  the  most  beautiful  child  in  Folkestone — there 
is  not  another  on  the  Leas  to  touch  her  ;  all  the  nurses 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  249 

envies  me,  and  people  crowds  round  her,  as  if  she  was 
a  show :  and  she  smiles  and  carries  on  like  anything — 
especially  to  the  gentlemen.  How  she's  learnt  such 
an  awful  amount  of  deceit,  in  such  a  short  time,  puzzles 
me  ;  she's  as  sly  as  sly,  and  you'd  never  think  there 
was  so  strong  a  will  in  that  little  bit  of  a  body,  and 
what  she'll  be  like,  when  she  grows  up,  I'd  be  frightened 
to  say  !  She'll  grow  up  soon,  I  expect  ;  but  there's 
one  thing  I'm  sure  of,  and  that  is,  that,  wherever  she 
is,  she'll  give  trouble  !  " 

These  alarming  prophecies  on  the  part  of  nurse  held 
no  terrors  for  Letty,  but  only  made  her  aU  the  more 
determined  to  snatch  her  darling  from  a  woman  who 
did  not  appreciate  her — who  was  not  worthy  to  wheel 
her  perambulator.  Smithson  was  a  tremendous  talker, 
and,  strange  to  say,  exhibited  no  curiosity,  with  respect 
to  her  companion.  Contented  with  the  fact  that  she  was 
a  young  lady  who  was  rather  delicate  and  was  waiting 
at  the '  Grand '  for  the  arrival  of  a  relative.  Sometimes, 
she  vaguely  wondered  why  she  seemed  to  know  no  one, 
and  seemed  so  silent  and  downcast.  However,  this 
sociable  stranger  was  an  acceptable  acquaintance,  who 
often  relieved  her  of  her  duties  with  Miss  Cara;  playing 
with  the  child  on  the  beach  for  hours,  wheeling  her  in 
the  perambulator,  making  her  daisy-chains,  whilst 
Mrs.  Smithson  skipped  through  library  novels,  talked 
incessantly,  and,  occasionally  leaving  the  lady  in 
charge,  took  the  opportunity  to  do  a  little  shopping. 

Mrs.  Smithson  had  confided  to  Letty,  that  she  had 
a  cousin  up  at  Shorncliffe :  a  sergeant-major  with  his 


250  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

wife,  and  having  no  nursemaid  had  its  drawbacks — 
for  she  could  never  leave  the  child,  and  have  an 
afternoon  off. 

"  Now  there's  a  play  on  at  the  theatre  I'd  give  my 
two  eyes  to  see,  and  go  to  the  matinee  next  Saturday 
with  Carson  and  his  wife  ;  but  I  ask  you,  how  can  I  ?  " 

"  You  can  manage  it  perfectly  well,"  rejoined  Letty 
promptly.  "  I  have  nothing  to  do,  and  I  shall  be 
delighted  to  take  charge  of  Cara." 

"  Oh,  miss,  you  are  really  too  kind  !  But  I  couldn't 
allow  you  to  do  such  a  thing." 

"  I  assure  you  I  should  really  like  it,"  responded 
the  arch-deceiver.  "  I  am  fond  of  Cara,  and  I  think 
she  is  fond  of  me ;  so  if  you  care  to  make  your  arrange- 
ments, there  is  nothing  whatever  to  prevent  you  going 
to  the  matinee." 

After  some  half-hearted  expostulations,  and  pro- 
testations, the  whole  thing  was  settled.  Nurse  Smith- 
son  was  to  have  Saturday  afternoon  all  to  herself, 
from  two  till  seven — so  as  to  have  ample  time  to  go  up 
to  the  camp  to  tea  with  her  cousin — and  as  Letty  walked 
back  to  lunch,  she  felt  as  if  she  was  treading  on  air  ! 

Saturday,  and  this  was  Tuesday  !  She  had  written 
to  Mrs.  Hesketh,  who  vehemently  opposed  her  scheme  ; 
but  seeing  that  Letty  was  fully  determined  to  kidnap 
Cara,  reluctantly  agreed  to  assist  her. 

On  Wednesday  afternoon,  she  came  down  to  Folke- 
stone, in  the  hope  of  talking  over  her  friend, — but  this 
expectation  was  fruitless.  The  boot  was  on  the  other 
foot ;  it  was  Letty  who  talked  her  over  !    She  seemed 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  251 

changed :  to  have  acquired  a  consciousness  of  power, 
an  air  of  graceful  assurance,  and  the  faculty  of  making 
up  her  mind ! 

At  dinner,  there  was  a  truce  between  their  wrestling 
personalities,  but  the  new-comer  resolved  to  have  it 
out  with  her  young  friend,  as  subsequently  they 
walked  to  the  band  on  the  lower  Leas. 

"  Remember,  Letty,  you  lose  five  hundred  a  year," 
she  began,  a  apropos  de  Hen,  as  they  approached  the 
rendezvous  of  hundreds  of  crowded  chairs,  the  bril- 
liantly lit  bandstand,  and  caught  the  flashes  from 
Cape  Grisnez — illuminating  a  glassy  Channel — starred 
with  the  fishing  fleet. 

"  That  is  true,"  assented  her  companion  ;  "  but 
then,  I  gain  Cara,  and,  to  me,  she  is  worth  ten  times 
that  sum." 

"  Then,  my  dear,  perhaps  you  will  also  tell  me  how 
you  propose  to  live  ?  "  was  the  dry  enquiry. 

"  I  have  saved  two  hundred  pounds.  Here  are 
seats — what  a  crowd  !  I'll  pay  the  collector — it's 
only  coppers." 

Mrs.  Hesketh,  not  a  whit  propitiated,  went  on  to 
state  that  two  hundred  pounds  in  the  hands  of  a  girl 
who  knew  nothing  of  money,  would  not  go  far. 

"  Though,"  she  added,  "  of  course  /  will  help  you." 

"  No,  no  indeed,"  protested  Letty,  putting  down  a 
strange  dog  that  had  sprung  into  her  lap.  "  By  and  by 
I  hope  to  earn  my  living,  and  I  will  ask  you  to  draw, 
and  to  forward  the  interest  on  my  legacy,  and  also  to 
sell   my    pearls,    my   mother's    necklace.      They    are 


252  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

valuable  ;  an  Indian  Rajah  gave  them  to  my  father 
for  something  he  had  done — saved  him  from  an 
assassin,  I  believe." 

"  Nonsense  !  No,  I  don't  mean  about  your  father," 
said  her  companion  impatiently.  "  I  have  a  plan  ; 
that  is  to  say,  if  you  are  bent  on  carrying  out  this  act 
of  lunacy  ?  " 

"  I  am — oh,  dearest  cousin  Maudie,  I  must !  You 
are  strong  and  all-sufhcient  for  yourself.  I  am  a  weak, 
invertebrate  creature." 

"  Invertebrate — good  word !  "  interrupted  her  friend. 

"  And  I  must  have  something  to  live  for — some- 
thing to  love." 

"  You  had  Lancelot  Lumley." 

"  That's  different  !  I  would  only  bring  him  shame 
and  trouble  ;  but  Cara  is  mine.  I  will  rescue  her,  form 
her  character  as  well  as  ever  I  can, — and  make  her 
happy." 

"  I  wonder  if  she  will  make  yon  happy  ?  " 

"  Of  course  she  will.    And  now,  what  is  your  plan  ?  " 

"  You  can  leave  your  pearls  with  me  in  pawn,  and 
I  will  pay  you  thirty  pounds  a  year  on  them,  till  you 
return  home,  and  claim  them." 

For  a  long  time  Letty  combated  this  suggestion  : 
in  fact,  all  through  the  valse  '  Mes  Reves,'  played  so 
seductively  by  the  band. 

But  Mrs.  Hesketh,  a  practical  woman,  was  deter- 
mined that  her  foolish  friend  should  not  fare  forth 
into  the  cold  world,  quite  penniless,  with  the  exception 
of  her  hoarded  two  hundred  pounds. 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  258 

"  And  another  thing,  I  must  say,  Letty,  and  that  is 
about  the  nurse.  Have  you  thought  of  the  frightful 
trouble  she  will  get  into ;  and  her  state  of  mind  when 
she  returns  and  finds  that  you  have  stolen  her  charge  ?  " 

"  Yes :  I  am  leaving  a  present,  and  a  letter  to  clear 
her  entirely.  I  fancy  she  will  be  surprised  when  she 
discovers  that,  of  all  people,  I  am  Cara's  mother !  " 

"  She  won't  make  friends  again  in  a  hurry,  with 
pretty  strange  ladies  !  You  are  a  child  in  the  ways  of 
the  world  ;  you  have  never  in  all  your  life  had  to 
depend  upon  yourself,  you  don't  know  the  value  of 
money, — or  how  far  it  goes.  As  to  earning  it,  I'm 
afraid  you  will  not  have  much  chance  of  that  in  Switzer- 
land, among  an  untiring,  and  industrious  people. 
Seventy  pounds  a  year,  will  at  least  keep  you  from 
starvation  :  for  Switzerland  is  a  cheap  country  to  live 
in — once  you  leave  the  radius  of  the  big  hotels — so 
you  will  give  me  your  address,  and  four  times  a  year 
I  will  send  you  seventeen  pounds.  And  perhaps,  if 
my  health  permits,  I  will  go  out,  and  settle  myself 
down  somewhere  near  you,  for  a  little  while." 

"  That  will  be  good  of  you.    Oh,  if  you  only  would !  " 

"  If  it  were  suspected,  that  I  was  here  with  you, 
abetting  and  aiding  your  criminal  act,  and  arranging 
for  your  departure,  I  should  get  into  a  nice  scrape, 
but  you  know,  my  dear,  I  have  always  liked  you,  and 
I'm  sorry  you  have  made  such  an  awful  hash  of  your 
life." 

"  So  am  I,"  agreed  Letty,  with  profound  sincerity. 

"  My  own  marriage  was  not  a  success  ;  my  husband 


254  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

and  I  were  never  sympathetic,  we  were  always  like 
two  goats  chained  to  a  log  ;  but  we  kept  it  to  ourselves, 
and  I  am  not  sure,  after  all,  that  I  am  a  very  easy 
woman  to  live  with.  I  am  restless  and  discontented, 
I  expect  too  much  of  hfe." 

"  I  should  think  you  were  excessively  easy  to  live 
with,  Cousin  Maude  ;  you  and  I  got  on  together 
splendidly  when  we  were  abroad." 

"  Yes,"  she  agreed,  "  but  then  I  am  growing  old, 
and  the  fires  of  life  have  died  down.  I  must  tell  you, 
Letty,  that  I  do  not  think,  and  never  will  think,  that 
this  step  you  are  taking  is  a  wise  one.  Of  course, 
your  motherly  heart  is  empty  without  the  child ; 
but  you  are  expatriating  yourself  on  her  account,  you 
have  relinquished  almost  every  shilling  in  the  world 
on  her  behalf,  you  have  given  up  your  friends,  and 
you  have  given  up  Lancelot  Lumley.  I  hope,  as  the 
years  advance,  that  you  will  find  that  Cara  has  been 
worth  this  sacrifice,  and  that  when  old  enough  to  be 
a  companion,  she  will  return  your  devotion  four-fold." 

"  But,  Cousin  Maude,  I  cannot  see  why  you  think 
I  am  making  a  mistake  ?  " 

"  I  have  longer  sight  than  you :  it  is  unnatural  for 
a  girl  of  one-and-twenty  to  cut  herself  adrift  from  the 
world,  and  devote  her  life  absolutely  to  a  baby  of  four. 
As  I  said  to  Blagdon,  I  have  no  doubt  these  things 
were  done  in  years  gone  by, — when  a  wife's  whole 
existence  was  concentrated  on  her  kitchen,  and  her 
nursery ;  but  now  we  live  in  more  advanced  times ; 
every  woman   has  her  place  in  the   world,   her  in- 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  256 

dividual  life — and,  so  to  speak,  her  hand  to  play,  and 
you  are  sitting  down  to  take  the  part  of  Dummy !  " 

"  Oh,  Cousin  Maude,"  she  protested,  "  how  can 
you  say  so  ?  I  have  this  darling  child,  she  will  be  all 
in  all  to  me  ;  it  will  be  my  pleasure  to  devote  myself 
to  her,  to  work  for  her,  and  to  bring  her  up  to  be  good. 
Think  if  I  had  left  her  with  Hugo,  or  Hugo's  sister, 
to  be  educated  under  their  influence.  How  soon  her 
mind  would  be  corrupted  ;  what  examples  she  would 
see  before  her  !  I  dare  say  by  the  time  she  was  sixteen 
she  would  be  as  bold  and  boisterous  and  evil-minded 
as  the  worst — at  least,  I  shall  save  her  from  that." 

"  I  hope  so,  my  dear,  and  I  agree  with  you,  that  the 
society  of  Hugo  Blagdon,  his  sister,  and  his  friends, 
would  be  a  deplorable  education  for  any  girl." 

After  a  pause  she  continued  : 

"  You  are  getting  back  your  looks,  Letty,  and  your 
youth,  and  are  no  longer  a  stricken,  haggard  creature 
of  thirty,  but  once  more  a  girl  in  your  springtime — 
3'ou  are  divorced,  and  free.  Supposing  you  were  to 
come  across  somebody  you  really  love,  and  were  to 
marry  again  ?  " 

"  Oh,  never,  never  !  Besides,  I  don't  think  a  woman 
who  has  been  divorced,  should  marry." 

"  That  is  a  much-debated  question.  And  what 
if  Lancelot  Lumley  were  to  return,  and  claim  you  ? 
He  has  gone  through  the  furnace  for  your  sake. 
His  poor  old  father  has  entirely  lost  his  memory,  and 
fortunately  has  never  heard  of  the  great  Blagdon 
scandal.    The  last  time  I  saw  Frances,  it  seemed  to  me 


256  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

that  she  was  changed  ;  there  were  hnes  in  her  face, 
and  she  looked  out  of  spirits,  and  down  on  her  luck." 

"  Poor  Frances,  I  have  indeed  returned  her  evil  for 
good.  I  cannot  tell  you  what  a  support  she  was  to 
me  in  those  days  when  I  was  alone  at  Sharsley.  I  was 
so  silly  and  nervous  in  that  big  house  ;  always  afraid 
to  go  to  bed.  My  room  was  by  itself  in  the  west  wing, 
and  the  rats  in  the  wall,  gave  me  palpitation  of  the 
heart,  and  I  used  to  think  of  ghosts  too — the  blind 
Scrope  lady,  who  gropes  and  fumbles  outside  doors — 
but  Frances  would  come  up  with  books  and  jokes,  and 
insist  on  my  going  for  walks  with  her,  and  talking  me 
out  of  my  fears.  She  and  you,  are  my  best,  and  only, 
friends." 

"  Your  best  friend  should  be  yourself,  Letty — I  can 
only  offer  you  money  and  advice  —you  accept  neither. 
How  I  wish  I  could  give  you  what  you  want  most — 
a  will ;  a  will  to  keep  upon  a  certain  steady  path." 

"  I  am  on  the  right  path  now,"  she  answered,  "  and, 
to  follow  your  simile,  hand  in  hand  with  Cara,  I  intend 
to  stick  to  a  road  that  leads  to  happiness." 

Mrs.  Hesketh  muttered  something  under  her  breath 
about  a  hedonist  ;  then  as  the  band  played  '  God 
Save  the  King,'  they  rose  side  by  side,  and  presently 
were  swallowed  up  in  the  streaming  crowds  returning 
to  their  several  hotels ;  Letty  expatiating  on  the  beauty 
of  the  moonlit  night,  her  companion  dumb  and  dis- 
trait, in  the  face  of  the  inevitable. 

When  the  critical  Saturday  arrived.  Nurse  Smithson, 
dressed  in  her  best,  what  she  called  '  private  '  clothes, 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  257 

and  a  superb  hat,  went  off  in  high  spirits  to  the  theatre, 
attended  by  her  friends.  Letty  collected  the  child's 
belongings,  packed  them  in  a  trunk,  and  took  her 
away  in  a  cab  to  the  Pavihon  Hotel,  where  she  met 
Mrs.  Hesketh,  and  her  own  luggage.  By  the  four 
o'clock  afternoon  boat,  among  hordes  of  holiday 
passengers,  was  a  remarkably  pretty  girl  in  blue  serge, 
with  a  small  fractious  child  in  her  charge.  The  two 
were  sped  by  a  distinguished  lady  friend,  who  waved 
to  them  from  the  end  of  the  pier,  as  long  as  a  handker- 
chief was  visible. 


CHAPTER    XXV 

AS  it  happened,  the  kidnapper  was  not  an  experi- 
enced nurse,  or  accustomed  to  the  sole  charge 
of  a  fractious  child,  and  little  Cara  proved  unexpectedly 
peevish  and  obstreperous.  The  trip  across  to  Boulogne 
was  well  enough,  but  once  in  the  railway  carriage, 
nothing  seemed  to  please  or  pacify  her  ;  fruit,  pictures, 
chocolates,  were  but  temporary  alleviations ;  her  one 
shrill  continuous  cry,  repeated  a  '  crescendo,'  was, 
"  I  want  my  Ninny — I  want  my  Ninny  !  I  want 
my  Ninny!"  and  the  more  her  mother  soothed  and 
coaxed,  the  louder  and  more  passionate  became  her 
screams.  The  miserable  passengers  in  her  compart- 
ment had  no  peace  or  rest,  and  thankfully  parted  at 
Bale  Station,  with  what  a  sleepless  individual  apostro- 
phised, as,  '  that  accursed  brat.'  It  was  also  with  a 
sigh  of  profound  relief  that  her  worn-out  and  haggard 
mother,  with  the  treasure  in  her  arms,  climbed  down 
into  the  airy,  spacious  station  of  Lucerne.  As  soon  as 
she  had  claimed  her  luggage,  she  drove  off  in  a  little 
open  trap  to  a  well-known  and  well-recommended 
hotel  in  the  old  town.  Here,  the  fugitive  remained 
sequestered  for  several  days,  gathering  herself  together 
before  she  made  the  next  plunge. 

She  engaged  a  Swiss  girl  to  help  with  Cara — a  young 

258 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  259 

lady  that  never  could  be  left  alone,  and  demanded  in- 
cessant attention,  and  amusement.  As  she  was  carried 
through  the  streets,  or  walked  on  the  Quai,  her  yellow 
hair  and  large  blue  eyes,  attracted  notice  ;  people  would 
exclaim  and  admire  her,  and  so,  early  in  her  career, 
Miss  Caroline  Blagdon  learned  that  she  was  a  beauty, 
and  ideas  thus  prematurely  absorbed,  remain  firmly 
fixed  throughout  the  remainder  of  a  lifetime. 

It  was  mid- August,  and  lovely  Lucerne  was  at  its 
brightest  and  busiest  ;  the  promenade  under  the  trees 
on  the  Quai  was  almost  impassable,  the  steamers  plying 
on  the  lake  were  black  with  crowds,  and  every  hotel 
and  pension  was  crammed  to  the  roof. 

As  Letty  moved  among  the  throng,  and  hstened  to 
the  sounds  of  gay  voices,  to  the  well-known  Milanese 
Orchestra,  and  felt  the  whirl  of  life  about  her :  she 
seemed  to  be  a  new  creature  in  a  new  world.  Once  she 
ventured  into  a  tea-shop,  but  before  she  had  been 
there  five  minutes,  she  recognised  the  prim  faces  and 
clear  high  bred  treble  of  the  two  Miss  Jessops, — who, 
plates  in  hand,  were  cautiously  selecting  cakes,  and 
instantly  abandoned  her  tea  and  fled. 

On  another  occasion,  she  narrowly  escaped  recog- 
nition in  an  embroidery  shop,  where  she  was  launching 
into  a  piece  of  wild  extravagance  on  behalf  of  Cara, 
and  felt  convinced,  that  Lucerne  in  the  high  season  was 
no  place  for  a  young  woman  who  had  recently  stolen 
her  child  ! 

She  therefore  began  to  set  about  making  enquiries 
concerning  pensions,  and  farm-liouse  apartments.    Her 


260  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

little  nursemaid  Magda,  was  able  to  tell  her  of  one 
that  might  suit  ;  a  farm  on  the  left  side  of  the  lake, 
where  her  sister  worked,  and  she  knew  that  Fran 
Hurter's  boarder,  a  professor  who  wrote  books,  had 
recently  left  for  Berlin,  and  the  Fran  was  looking  for 
another  to  replace  him. 

"  Frau  Hurter  was  a  well-to-do  widow  with  one  son : 
she  kept  ten  cows  ;  there  would  at  least  be  no  harm 
if  Madame  were  to  make  enquiries." 

No  time  like  the  present,  and  Madame,  taking 
Magda  as  her  guide,  went  down  by  the  two  o'clock 
boat — but  fearful  of  being  recognised,  she  remained 
below  in  the  stifling  cabin,  instead  of  on  deck  enjoying 
all  the  glories  of  a  superb  afternoon.  When  the  trio 
landed,  Magda  led  the  way,  carrying  the  child  by 
turns  with  her  mistress. 

After  walking  a  mile,  and  passing  an  imposing  hotel, 
they  left  the  road  for  a  rough  cart-track,  which  wound 
up  the  hill-side  amid  laden  orchards  and  prosperous 
chalets,  till  they  arrived  (in  a  somewhat  breathless 
condition)  at  a  faded  signboard  on  which  was  in- 
scribed '  Les  Plans,  Pension.'  The  pension,  was  a  sub- 
stantial residence  of  dark  weather-beaten  wood,  it  had  a 
heavy  peaked  roof,  bright  green  shutters,  and  a  veran- 
dah. The  approach  by  a  flagged  path,  led  through  a 
garden  which  was  at  present  a  blaze  of  flowers :  a  mass 
of  standard  roses,  lilies,  hydrangeas,  and  clove  pinks ; 
further  from  the  flagged  path  were  apple  and  pear 
trees,  standard  gooseberry  bushes,  and  plots  of  lettuce. 

On  the  doorstep  of  the  entrance  lay  stretched  out  a 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  261 

brown  and  white  half -grown  St.  Bernard,  and  above  the 
Hntel  was  the  date  1780.  Thanks  to  the  indulgence  of 
the  dog — an  acquaintance  of  Magda's — the  trio  entered. 
The  interior  of  Les  Plans  appeared  more  ancient  than 
the  outside,  with  its  green  shutters  and  modem  won- 
dows ;  there  was  a  long,  and  heavily  beamed  passage, 
off  which  opened  several  rooms. 

From  one  of  these,  a  stout,  middle-aged  woman, 
wearing  a  particularly  firm  expression,  and  a  large  blue 
apron,  advanced  to  enquire  the  lady's  pleasure. 

The  lady's  fluent  German  now  came  into  exercise, 
and  she  informed  Frau  Hurter  that  she  was  in  search 
of  a  comfortable  farmhouse,  where  she  could  have 
two  airy,  sunny  rooms,  and  plenty  of  milk  for  the 
child. 

"  Your  own  little  girl  ?  "  enquired  the  proprietor, 
with  an  air  of  surprise.  She  had  not  wedded  till  close 
on  forty. 

"  I  think  I  have  what  may  suit.  The  Herr  Professor 
occupied  my  rooms  for  four  summers  ;  now  he  has 
been  called  to  a  post  in  Berlin,  and  they  are  free." 

Then  she  led  the  way  up  very  steep  stairs  to  a 
landing  coiTesponding  to  the  hall  below,  ushered  her 
visitor  into  two  exquisitely  clean  rooms,  one  over- 
looking the  lake,  the  other  the  slopes  of  the  Rigi.  The 
boards  were  bare,  except  for  two  or  three  home-made 
rugs  ;  the  beds  were  of  the  usual  comfortable  German 
pattern  ;  tables  covered  with  white  cloths,  two  or 
three  chairs  and  washstands,  and  that  was  all. 

As  Letty  sm-veyed  the  apartments,  and  their  square- 


262  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

faced  upright  owner,  she  assured  herself  that  with  a 
few  little  extras  she  could  make  her  home  here  ;  there 
was  always  the  matchless  lake,  with  its  changing 
colours  and  incessant  traffic,  the  beautiful  mountains, 
and  no  doubt  there  were  appropriate  and  exhilarating 
walks.  The  whole  place  smelt  of  roses,  the  air  was 
delicious  ;  where  could  she  find  a  better,  or  more 
secure  retreat  ? 

Frau  Hurter  now  conducted  her  visitor  down  the 
break-neck  stairs,  in  order  that  the  English  lady  might 
view  her  surroundings,  for  this  shrewd  woman,  thor- 
oughly understood  their  marketable  effect. 

Before  their  eyes  lay  the  flower  garden,  the  spreading 
meadows,  laden  orchards,  and  the  glittering  lake.  At 
the  rear  of  Les  Plans,  rose  a  vast  top-heavy  structure, 
the  cow-house — (that  chief  feature  on  a  Swiss  farm). 
The  brown,  weather-stained  walls  were  almost  con- 
cealed by  venerable  pear  trees,  whose  yellow  fruit  hung 
in  tempting  profusion.  The  upper  part  of  the  building, 
was  evidently  occupied  by  human  beings  ;  from  beneath 
came  the  incessant  grunting  of  discontented  pigs.  Just 
at  present,  the  great  cow  stalls  stood  empty,  and  high 
on  the  grassy  hill-side,  the  ten  dun  cows  were  grazing 
under  laden  apple  trees — for  Les  Plans  was  a  com- 
bination of  fruit  orchard  and  dairy  farm — their  sturdy 
calves  were  learning  life  and  independence,  and  a 
yearling  bull,  impeded  by  a  log,  swaggered  about,  with 
an  air  of  grotesque  importance.  Each  animal  wore  its 
bell,  and  the  musical  clanging  of  these,  the  hint  of  clear 
mountain  air,  and  the  verdure  of  the  exquisite  green 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  263 

background,  made  an  impression  on  Letty  that  she 
never  forgot. 

And  now  came  the  question  of  terms  !  The  would-be 
boarder  was  helplessly  ignorant  of  money  matters  ; 
with  Frau  Hurter  it  was  otherwise :  she  had  learnt 
the  art  of  barter  as  a  child,  had  a  solid  balance  in  the 
bank  of  Lucerne,  and  was  a  capable  and  close-fisted 
widow,  who  had  managed  her  own  affairs  for  years. 
Needless  to  say  she  made  a  capital  bargain. 

"  Would  Madame  be  likely  to  stay  long  ?  " 
she  enquired,  expecting  the  reply  to  be  a  month 
or  six  weeks.  She  was  amazed  when  Madame 
replied  : 

"  If  I  am  comfortable  here,  I  shall  remain  possibly 
for  years." 

"  And  Madame 's  name  ?  " 

"  My  name,"  she  replied,  "  is  Mrs.  Glyn." 

"  Is  Madame  a  widow  ?  "  and  the  inquisitor  searched 
her  face  with  a  stare  of  hard  scrutiny. 

To  this  question  she  replied  : 

"  I  am  married — this  little  girl  is  my  child.  I  will 
pay  3^ou  a  week  in  advance,  and  I  must  ask  you  to 
consider  this  information  sufficient." 

Frau  Hurter  almost  felt  as  if  a  dove  had  flown  in  her 
face  !  This  beautiful  English  girl,  who  looked  so 
young  and  simple,  and  was  so  easy  about  mone}^  was 
not  altogether  as  mild  as  she  had  supposed. 

"  Oh,  very  well,"  she  answered  ;  "  Madame's  affairs 
are  her  affairs." 

"  We  will  come  to-morrow,"  announced  Letty,  "  if 


264  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

you  will  send  someone  to  meet  the  two  o'clock  boat, 
and  bring  our  luggage." 

Thus  the  bargain  was  concluded,  and  sealed. 

Before  departure  Frau  Hurter  conducted  her  future 
lodger  around  the  luxuriant  garden  ;  she  gave  the 
child  a  cup  of  fresh  milk,  her  mother  a  bunch  of 
roses,  and  Letty  walked  down  the  rugged  cart-track 
feeling  more  happy  and  elated  than  she  had  done  for 
years.  She  would  live  in  this  lovely  and  secluded  spot, 
where  none  of  the  troubles  of  the  world  could  possibly 
overtake  her. — Would  they  not  ? 

Within  two  or  three  days  of  her  installation  at  Les 
Plans,  Letty  found  herself  comfortably  settled  and  at 
home.  The  family  consisted  of  Frau  Hurter,  the  hard- 
featured  widow  ;  her  son  Fritz,  a  handsome  dark- 
eyed  schoolboy;  Magda's  sister  Freda,  a  squat,  rosy- 
cheeked  young  woman  who  laboured  incessantly  in 
house  and  dairy,  whilst  over  the  cows  and  pigs  resided 
Hans  Jost,  and  his  consort.  These  were  relatives  of 
Frau  Hurter,  who  looked  after  the  cattle  and  the  farm 
— a  large  one — and  took  the  milk  daily  to  a  Laiterie 
or  Modkerei,  which  supplied  some  of  the  Lucerne 
hotels.  The  heavy  crops  of  apples  and  pears  received 
attention,  and  cartloads  of  the  latter  were  despatched 
to  the  great  manufactory,  to  be  converted  into  honey  ! 

Little  Cara,  with  her  pretty  face  and  caressing 
manners,  soon  became  the  idol  of  Les  Plans  :  the  petting 
and  admiration  hitherto  conferred  on  Karo,  the  big, 
long-legged  St.  Bernard,  were  now  transferred  to 
*  Mitli,'  as  she  was  called, — a  German- Swiss  pet  name 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  265 

for  a  small  child, — ^aiid  Mitli  soon  became  familiar  with 
her  court  and  its  many  resomxes,  from  the  great  tree 
of  sweet  yellow  plums  in  the  corner  of  the  garden,  to 
the  boat  which  lay  chained  by  the  lake  shore. 

Her  mother,  too,  made  agreeable  discoveries.  There 
were  lovely  walks  in  the  vicinity  ;  her  surroundings 
were  soothing  and  reposeful,  and  she  seemed  to  stand 
aside  in  a  beautiful  sheltered  retreat,  whilst  all  the 
world  hurried  by.  The  world,  as  typified  in  the  white 
steamers,  crowded  with  passengers,  that  passed  con- 
tinually up  and  down  the  lake  ;  and  within  half  a  mile 
was  situated  a  popular  hotel,  which  in  the  season  was 
always  overflowing  with  fashionable  guests.  These, 
she  occasionally  encountered  in  walks,  which  she  took 
accompanied  by  the  deposed  favourite,  and  more  than 
one  halted  to  look  after  the  solitary  beauty,  and  her 
attendant  dog. 

For  once  in  her  life,  Letty  was  enjoying  freedom  and 
a  certain  amount  of  happiness  ;  but  here  again,  when 
memory  drifted  into  deeper  currents,  she  was  con- 
stantly tormented  by  the  remembrance  of  Lancelot — 
high-minded,  generous,  forbearing  Lancelot,  whom  she 
loved,  would  always  love,  and  yet  had  forsaken  and 
lost. 

Her  good  resolutions  with  respect  to  money  were 
soon  broken  ;  she  purchased  some  extra  furniture  for 
her  two  rooms,  a  reliable  lamp,  a  tea-set,  baths,  and 
actually  invested  in  a  piano  which  cost,  second-hand, 
thirty  pounds — but  her  love  for  music  almost  amounted 
to  a  passion ;  the  instrument  was  installed  in  Frau 


266  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

Hurler's  quaint  and  low-pitched  sitting-room,  and  here, 
when  Cara  was  asleep,  her  mother  enjoyed  an  hour  or 
two  of  undiluted  pleasure. 

Frequent  letters  from  Mrs.  Hesketh  were  delivered 
at  the  farm,  and  Letty  heard  of  the  sensation  created 
by  her  abduction,  and  how  there  had  been  flaring 
paragraphs  in  the  papers,  in  which  her  name  had 
figured  ;  but  soon  interest  had  slackened — it  was  less 
than  a  nine  days'  wonder. 

"  You  will  be  left  in  peace  with  Cara,"  wrote  Letty's 
friend,  "  Hugo  will  not  set  the  detective  after  you  ;  if 
your  theft  had  been  a  son  and  heir,  by  this  time  you 
would  be  languishing  in  gaol." 

The  season  waned  by  degrees  ;  many  of  the  steamers 
were  laid  up,  the  great  hotels  closed,  and  winter 
descended  from  the  mountains.  By  and  by  came  grey 
short  days,  and  Les  Plans  was  swallowed  up  in  snow. 
Letty  had  her  piano  and  sewing,  her  books  and  her 
child  :  Frau  Hurter  and  Freda  were  busy  with  knitting 
and  spinning,  Fritz  with  his  lessons  and  outdoor  games 
— and  he  sometimes  condescended  to  play  with  Cara. 
His  father  had  been  Italian,  and  from  him,  he  had  in- 
herited his  dark  eyes,  and  his  gay  temperament. 

The  climate  proved  trying  to  an  unaccustomed 
foreigner,  and  the  food  was  not  appetising.  In  October, 
three  of  the  dissatisfied  pigs  were  slain,  and  made  into 
ham  and  sausages,  as  provisions  for  the  winter.  As  a 
menu  of  sausages,  bread,  coffee,  and  cheese  palled  after 
a  time,  the  boarder  supplemented  the  fare  from  her  own 
purse,  and  secretly  resolved  to  spend  the  next  winter  in 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  267 

Lucerne  itself,  returning  to  Les  Plans  with  the  spring. 
By  the  end  of  the  second  year  Mrs.  Glyn  found  herself 
seriously  embarrassed  for  money.  Alas  !  the  two  hun- 
dred pounds  had  dissolved  like  snowflakes  in  the  sun  ; 
she  had  been  obliged  to  dismiss  Magda,  and  was  now 
nurse — a  somewhat  onerous  post ;  she  had  wasted  far 
too  much  on  follies :  such  as  embroideries  and  pretty 
shoes  and  hats  for  Cara,  but  whatever  happened,  and 
whoever  was  pinched,  it  should  never  be  the  child. 

The  pretty  Englishwoman  had  made  a  few  friends 
in  the  commercial  world,  who  were  impressed  by  her 
air,  her  beauty,  her  voice,  and  maternal  devotion. 
Thanks  to  these  kind  friends  in  the  Weggisgasse,  she 
found  music  pupils,  and  had  learnt  to  execute  em- 
broidery and  lace,  for  which  the  town  is  famous,  and 
was  fortunate  enough  to  find  regular  customers  in  one 
of  the  big  shops;  so  that  by  working  industriousl}^, 
she  became  self-supporting,  and  was  moderately 
content. 

By  the  time  Cara  was  a  tall  girl  of  eight,  her  mother 
felt  that  her  home  for  life  was  on  the  Lake  of  Lucerne, 
and  had  accommodated  herself  to  this  conviction. 
On  holidays,  she  and  Cara  went  boating  with  Fritz,  or 
made  excursions  up  the  mountains,  whither  Cara 
pleased — everything  was  done  with  the  view  of  pleasing 
the  child,  who,  well  cared  for,  well  dressed,  and  well 
amused,  was  an  amazingly  pretty,  headstrong,  and  un- 
manageable girl. — Only  as  far  as  her  mother  was  con- 
cerned— she  was  still  a  little  in  awe  of  Frau  Hurter,  and 
of  Jost's  grim  wife. 


268  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

Cara  had  suffered  herself  to  be  taught  her  letters, 
and  even  mastered  '  Reading  Without  Tears  '  ;  but 
there  she  struck.  History  stories,  and  pretty  maps  were 
flouted,  and  flung  on  the  floor,  and  to  her  teacher's 
soft  pleading — and  even  bribes — she  interposed  a  will 
as  hard  and  solid  as  a  wall  of  rock.  Cara  persistently 
begged  and  teased  to  go  to  school  in  Mitzau ;  as  usual 
she  gained  her  point,  and  accompanied  by  her  mother 
or  Freda,  went  daily  to  an  excellent  seminary  within 
a  mile  of  Les  Plans,  where  she  associated  with  the 
children  of  the  neighbouring  farms.  Among  these,  she 
soon  became  a  prominent  leader,  and  absorbed  many 
facts  and  fancies,  in  addition  to  German  Grammar,  and 
the  history  of  the  Swiss  Repubhc. 


CHAPTER    XXVI 

FIVE  times  had  the  hill  orchards  blazed  into 
blossom,  the  Alpine  wild  flowers  spread  their 
radiance  over  the  slopes,  and  the  white  stillness  of 
winter  descended  on  the  scene,  and  yet  the  English 
lady  remained  faithful  to  Les  Plans.  She  had  become 
a  part  of  the  household,  but  Cara,  who  adventured  her 
young  tendrils  further  than  the  farm,  had  many  re- 
sources and  associates  in  the  neighbourhood — though 
her  pretty  mother  contented  herself  with  the  company 
of  Frau  Hurter,  her  books,  and  her  needle.  Owing  to 
an  acute  financial  crisis,  the  piano  had  been  sold.  Letty 
had  a  horror  of  debt,  and  when  she  made  reckless  pur- 
chases, paid  for  her  generosity  by  hours  and  weeks 
of  close  and  incessant  labour,  the  result  being  a  wan 
face  and  agonising  headaches.  Then  Frau  Hurter, 
with  downright  speech,  would  drive  her  forth  for  walks, 
and  clamour  fiercely  for  half  holidays. 

"  Mein  Frau,  you  will  have  an  illness,  and  a  bad 
one,"  she  would  say  ;  "  and  the  doctors,  they  eat  up 
m.oney.  Ach  ye  !  you  sit  all  day  stitch,  stitch.  You 
must  have  our  good  fresh  air  and  exercise,  or  you  may 
die — and  then  where  would  Mitli  be,  and  I  ?  " 

So  Letty,  with  Karo  as  her  companion,  took  the 
holidays  and  long  walks  and  roamed  over  the  moun- 

269 


270  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

tains  along  goat-paths,  and  by  quaint  old  farms,  and 
weather-worn  brown  chalets.  Her  thoughts  were  not 
always  happy  ;  sometimes  she  felt  a  touch  of  soul- 
ache  ;  for  the  warm  blood  of  youth  still  throbbed  in 
her  veins.  It  was  true,  that  she  had  Cara,  and  Cara's 
love  was  hers  ;  but  then  she  was  but  nine  years 
old,  and  her  natural  disposition  was  unresponsive. 
How  she  longed  for  a  companion  of  her  own  country, 
and  her  own  age — someone  whose  ideas  soared  beyond 
school-fellows  and  sweets — and  it  struck  her  painfully 
at  times,  that  Cara  avoided  her !  Often,  when  she  de- 
scended to  fetch  her  darling  home,  the  child  would 
slip  from  her  side,  and  attach  herself  to  a  class-mate, 
and  whisper  eager  confidences, — leaving  her  deserted 
parent  to  walk  alone  ;  or  when  of  an  evening  she  was 
ready  to  help  with  lessons,  dress  dolls,  and  play  games, 
Cara  would  suddenly  jump  up,  and  exclaim  : 

"  Oh,  this  is  stupid  !  stupid  !  I  am  going  to  look 
for  Fritz." 

But  if  subsequently  a  warm  arm  stole  round  Letty's 
neck,  and  a  soft  cheek  were  laid  on  hers,  certain  dark 
misgivings  were  scattered  to  the  winds,  and  the  spirit 
of  patient  confidence  resumed  its  sovereignty.  Occa- 
sionally she  went  to  Lucerne — commercial  excursions, 
connected  with  the  sale  of  her  work — ^and  would  treat 
herself  to  a  concert  at  the  Casino,  an  organ  recital  at 
the  Hof  Kirche,  or  visit  friends  in  the  Wienplatz  and 
the  Weggisgasse.  Her  beauty,  though  unadorned,  was 
far  too  striking  to  be  overlooked.  This  lovely  and 
lonely  young  lady,  was  stared  at,  followed,  accosted. 


THE   SERPENT'S  TOOTH  271 

Strangers — dealt  with  by  Frau  Hiirter — and  letters, 
came  to  Les  Plans — offers  of  marriage  were  not  un- 
known !  A  wealthy  merchant  from  Milan ;  a  dark 
handsome  Spaniard,  presented  himself  as  an  anxious 
suitor  for  the  hand  of  the  exquisite  young  widow — a 
lady  to  whom  he  had  never  spoken,  but  whose  dazzling 
beauty  and  air  of  breeding,  had  captured  his  heart.  A 
clever  engineer  from  Berne,  also  wrote  impassioned  and 
insistent  love-letters. 

"  Tell  them,  Frrai  Hurter,  that  I  have  a  husband  in 
England,"  said  Letty  with  tremulous  energy. 

"  A  husband  !   and  I  thought  Madame  a  widow." 

"  No ;  but  we  shall  never  meet  again.  I  was  very, 
very  unhappy,  and  I  ran  away  with  Cara." 

"  Jesus  Maria  !  and  now  I  see  why  Madame  has  no 
correspondence — no  English  visitors." 

"  Yes,  Frau  Hurter,  and  if  more  Suisse  visitors  and 
Suisse  letters  persecute  me,  I  shall  go  to  another  place, 
and  find  accommodation  in  a  convent,  where  Cara  can 
learn,  and  I  can  work,  unmolested." 

Naturally  such  a  move  was  the  last  thing  Frau 
Hurter  desired.  She  loved  money,  and  could  not 
endure  to  part  with  a  lodger,  who  gave  no  trouble, 
paid  extravagantly, '  as  per  agreement,'  and  to  the  day. 

"  Madame  does  not  wish  to  be  found  nor  disturbed  ? 
/  will  see  to  that,"  declared  Frau  Hurter,  looking  for- 
biddingly, grim,  "  and  let  people  know  that  she  is  not 
as  they  suppose,  a  widow.  Yet  Madam.e  is  too  young 
to  lead  the  life  of  a  nun — all  work,  no  companions, 
no  pleasure." 


272  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

"  I  only  ask  to  be  left  alone,  I  am  much  happier  here 
than  in  England.    My  husband  was  not  kind  to  me." 

Frau  Hurter's  thoughts  turned  to  her  own  mate  ; 
the  dark-eyed  Italian  mason,  whom  the  cruel  cold  had 
put  to  death,  and  alas !  she  realised,  that  she  too  had 
been  cold,  to  that  warm-hearted  child  of  the  sun. 
Well,  she  was  making  up  for  her  neglect  by  a  double 
devotion  to  their  boy. 

And  now  at  last  behold  an  English  visitor  for  Mrs. 
Glyn  !  After  many  delays,  broken  promises,  and 
lengthy  telegrams,  Mrs.  Hesketh  came  out  to  Switzer- 
land and  engaged  rooms  at  the  Hotel  de  Paradis — just 
half  a  mile  below  Les  Plans.  She  was  welcomed  at 
Lucerne  Station  by  Letty  and  her  daughter  ;  the 
former,  unexpectedly  young  and  unchanged, — but  a 
little  behind  the  fashion  as  to  hat  and  costume.  Cara, 
a  well-grown  girl  of  ten,  with  bright  pink  cheeks,  and 
eyes  the  colour  of  a  turquoise,  wearing  a  smart  em- 
broidered frock  and  sash,  with  an  air  of  overwhelming 
self-consciousness . 

They  lunched  at  the  '  Schweizerhof,'  the  guests  of  the 
traveller,  and  to  the  unconcealed  delight  of  Cara, — ^\vho 
had  never  been  inside  the  hotel  till  then.  She  stared 
at  everything  and  everyone,  with  sharp,  observant 
glances,  and  her  godmother  noted  her  appetite  for 
piquante  sauces,  and  the  richest  sweets  ;  also  that  her 
blue  eyes  were  hard,  with  a  will  and  definite  purpose, 
and  cast  sly  quick  glances  on  herself, — as  if  curious 
to  know  the  effect  she  was  producing. 

Naturally  with  this  little  '  pitcher  '  present,  there 


THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH  278 

was  no  opportunity  for  any  confidential  talk  between 
the  grown-ups,  Mrs.  Hesketh  discoursed  of  home,  her 
journey,  and  other  ordinary  topics,  and  in  the  lounge 
after  dejeuner,  Cara  stuck  to  the  ladies  like  the  pro- 
verbial leech,  and  was  sublimely  indifferent  to  her 
mother's  timid  hint,  that  '  she  might  care  to  look  at 
the  new  illustrated  papers.'  No,  indeed,  Cara  pre- 
ferred to  listen  to  this  interesting  new  arrival ;  her 
talk  was  a  novelty,  she  liked  to  stare  at  her  ex- 
pensive travelling-dress,  her  splendid  rings,  and 
little  jewelled  watch.  She  had  nice  luggage  too, 
and  a  maid,  and  must  be  rich.  Mrs.  Hesketh  was 
her  godmother,  and  it  was  the  well-known  duty,  and 
the  raison  d'etre  of  a  godmother,  to  give  expensive 
presents. 

After  the  trip  down  the  lake,  Mrs.  Hesketh  received 
Letty  in  her  charming  sitting-room  at  the  '  Paradis,' 
and  said,  as  she  closed  the  door  : 

"  Now  we  can  talk  a  little,  my  dear.  But  where  is 
Cara  ?  " 

"  She  has  gone  out  on  the  water  with  Fritz." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  handsome  lad  who  met  us  at 
the  boat  ?  " 

"  Yes.  They  are  old  playmates.  Please  tell  me, 
what  you  think  of  Cara,"  she  asked  eagerly. 

"  Her  appearance,  I  suppose  you  mean  ?  Cara  does 
you  credit,  a  fine  girl,  who  will  develop  into  a  fine 
woman.  She  has  your  colouring,  with  her  aunt's 
physique." 

"  Oh,  no,  no — how  can  you  say  so  !  " 

T 


274  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  Yoii  have  done  your  utmost  ;  the  child  is  well 
nourished,  well  dressed,  well  drilled,  and  has  been  given 
a  good  conceit  of  herself — anyone  can  see  that  she  has 
walked  on  the  sunny  side  of  the  road !  " 

"  I  have  done  my  best,  Cousin  Maude." 

"  That  is  evident ;  and  now,  my  dear,  I  have  a 
question  to  ask  you." 

"  Yes  ?  " 

"  Was  it  worth  it  ?  Come,  Lctty,  give  me  a  straight 
answer." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  running  off  \vith  the  child,  forfeiting  your 
income,  your  country,  your  friends — yes — and  your 
lover — all  to  come  out  here,  have  Cara  to  yourself,  and 
work  hard  for  her  support." 

She  paused  for  a  moment.  Then,  as  Letty  was  pre- 
paring to  answer,  resumed  : 

"  Is  she  your  real  treasure  ?  Does  she  adore  her 
mother  ?  In  short,  Letty,  is  this  girl  your  compensa- 
tion ?  " 

Here  was  a  direct,  startling,  and  unexpected  question. 
For  a  moment  Letty  hesitated ;  as  in  a  flash,  memory 
brought  to  her,  Cara's  tempers,  her  tyranny  of  Les 
Plans,  her  iron  will,  her  secrecy — but  oh,  what  cruel, 
cruel,  disloyal  thoughts  !  How  could  a  mother  harbour 
them  ?  Looking  up  straight  into  her  confessor's  eyes, 
she  replied  : 

"  I  have  no  regrets,  and  I  would  do  it  again  !  " 

"  Ah — would  you  !  "  the  tone  was  dubious.  "  Lately 
it  has  seemed  to  me,  my  dear,  that  your  letters  were 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  275 

terribly  depressed — that  is  to  say,  reading  between  the 
hnes." 

"  Well,  of  course,  sometimes  one  is  lonely,  and  longs 
to  do  things,  and  to  see  people." 

"  If  you  had  only  played  your  cards  properly, 
Blagdon  would  have  made  the  girl  over  to  you — 
and  with  a  respectable  allowance.  He  did  not  know 
what  to  do  with  her ;  Lady  Rashleigh  couldn't  endure 
her,  and  his  mother  is  too  infirm  to  undertake  a  lively 
grandchild." 

"  I  don't  agree  with  you.  If  Hugo  thought  I  wanted 
Cara,  he  would  have  kept  her,  for  that  very  reason." 

"  I  hear  he  has  gone  in  more  than  ever  for  racing, 
with  Sir  Tom  as  his  guide,  and  has  burnt  his 
fingers  rather  badly.  It  is  said  he  wishes  to  marry 
again,  an  heiress  or  a  rich  widow  ;  meanwhile  Connie 
Rashleigh  lives  with  him  most  of  the  year." 

"  And  Mrs.  Corbett  ?  " 

"  No — as  soon  as  she  heard  that  her  husband  had 
made  a  huge  fortune  in  the  Argentine,  she  patched  up 
a  truce,  and  went  out  to  spend  it." 

"  And  the  Dentons — how  are  they  ?  " 

"  Much  as  usual — getting  a  little  older  and  greyer. 
By  the  way,  do  you  ever  hear  from  Lancelot  ?  " 

"  No,"  colouring  ;  "of  course  not — never." 

"  He  is  rising  rapidly  in  his  profession "     She 

paused.  No  need  to  tell  Letty  that  he  was  at  present 
on  leave  in  England.  "  Frances,  as  you  know,  is  still 
Miss  Lumley.  How  is  it,  that  all  the  minxes  get  snapped 
up,  and  the  treasures  are  left  ? 


276  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

To  this  question,  her  companion  made  no  reply. 
Had  not  she  herself,  been,  so  to  speak,  '  snapped  up '  ? 


Ever}''  day  Mrs.  Hesketh  and  her  friend  spent  many 
hours  in  each  other's  company  ;  either  Letty  descended 
to  the  hotel,  or  Mrs.  Hesketh  climbed  to  Les  Plans. 
Many  an  afternoon  she  sat  out  in  the  garden  or  the 
orchard,  enjoying  the  view,  and  Frau  Hurter's  incom- 
parable coffee,  and  she  rubbed  up  her  rusty  German 
in  order  to  converse  with  this  stern-looking,  industrious 
widow,  who  owned  and  worked  the  prosperous  farm ; 
rising  at  daybreak  to  see  to  the  poultry  and  milking, 
her  knitting  rarely  out  of  her  capable  hands,  and 
knitting  furiously  all  the  while  she  talked. — It  was  her 
boast,  that  never  in  her  life  had  she  bought  a  stocking 
or  a  sock  !  The  new-comer  could  see,  that  in  her  down- 
right phlegmatic  fashion,  Freda  Hurter  was  fond  of  her 
English  inmate,  and  very  proud  of  her  appearance — 
such  a  contrast  to  her  own  deeply  lined,  hard-featured 
visage  !  But  how  it  changed,  and  brightened  when 
she  spoke  of  Fritz,  Yes,  he  was  a  clever  fellow, 
and  was  to  be  educated  in  Zurich  ;  afterwards  he 
would  come  home  to  the  farm,  and  take  some  day  a 
wife,  and  she — her  work  done — would  sit  in  the  sun, 
and  read  her  Bible. 

Letty  conducted  her  visitor  to  all  her  favourite 
haunts,  and  walks,  exhibited  the  Kit  Stal,  and 
'  Mogli,'  her  tame  pet  cow,  who  knew  her  so  well — 
a  famous  dun  giving,  when  in  full  milk,  twenty-four 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  277 

litres  a  day.  Mrs.  Hesketh  took  stock  of  Les  Plans 
and  its  surroundings,  her  quick  eyes  made  notes  of  the 
Josts ;  brown  and  rugged  as  two  old  leafless  trees, 
determination,  avarice,  and  honesty,  engraved  upon 
their  faces.  Nor  did  she  fail  to  observe  hand- 
some Fritz,  with  his  dark,  expressive  eyes,  and 
beaming  Cara,  his  constant  attendant  ;  the  girl 
was  a  born  hoyden — could  row,  skate,  climb,  and 
yodel.  No  doubt  healthy  outdoor  life  was  an 
excellent  outlet  for  her  overpowering  spirits,  and 
activity.  She  was  evidently  a  favourite  among  the 
farm-folk,  with  the  exception  of  Jost's  wife,  and  the 
dog  Karo, — who  slunk  away  when  Cara  approached, 
and  growled  if  she  teased  him. 

It  seemed  to  the  onlooker,  that  the  girl  was  something 
of  a  tyrant,  who  accepted  all  favours  as  her  unques- 
tionable right.  Her  mother's  love,  and  devotion, 
the  indulgence  of  her  companions — over  whom  she 
governed  as  a  despotic  monarch.  Whatever  Mitli  said 
or  wished  was  law :  for  she  ruled  Fritz,  who  ruled 
his  mother,  who  ruled  Les  Plans. 

One  afternoon  her  mother  and  godmother  sat  to- 
gether under  a  shady  plane  tree  on  the  hill-side, 
Karo  extended  at  their  feet,  occasionally  snapping  at 
flies,  or,  laying  his  head  in  Letty's  lap,  adoring  her 
with  his  deep,  soft  eyes. 

"  So  you  say,  that  Cara  wants  to  go  to  the  Convent 
at  Lucerne  after  next  term  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Hesketh. 

"  Yes,  with  two  or  three  of  her  friends.  I  hear  it 
highly  recommended.    She  would  be  a  daily  boarder." 


278  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  And  after  the  Convent — when  the  girl  considers 
herself  educated — what  then  ?  " 

"  I  have  not  thought  of  that  yet." 

"  Then  my  dear,  the  sooner  you  begin  to  think  of  it 
the  better  ;  you  cannot  keep  Cara  on  a  Swiss  farm  all  her 
days ;  she  is  not  that  type.  Cara  is  for  towns,  and  cities." 

"  Oh,  well,  after  all  she  is  only  ten,"  protested  her 
mother.  "  No  need  to  worry  about  her  future  yet. 
Isn't  it  a  perfect  afternoon,  Cousin  Maude  ?  " 

It  was,  indeed  ;  there  was  magic  in  the  air.  Across 
the  lake,  the  wooded  slopes  dipped  into  emerald  and 
silver  ;  high  up  beyond  woods  and  crags,  outlined 
against  a  blue,  blue  sky,  was  the  snowy  range ;  every 
ridge  and  peak  bathed  in  delicate  rose-colour — truly 
these  were  the  mountains  of  Fairyland :  close  by  the 
friends,  an  urgent  stream  sang  on  its  way  to  the  lake, 
and  all  around  was  green  luxuriance,  tinkling  cow- 
bells, and  the  faint  perfume  of  fruit,  and  flowers. 

Mrs.  Hesketh  withdrew  her  gaze  from  the  prospect, 
to  fix  them  on  her  companion.  Here  was  a  face  and 
figure  in  complete  harmony  with  the  exquisite  scene  ; 
she  studied  Letty's  slender  grace,  her  clouds  of  soft 
hair  (darker  than  formerly),  the  perfect  outlines  of 
cheek  and  feature,  and  the  long  lashes  sweeping  the 
flawbss  skin.  Truly  a  haunting  picture  !  If  the  view 
was  one  to  lure  the  hurried  traveller, — here  was  a 
beauty  to  lure  mankind. 

"  Yes,  Cara  is  only  ten,"  began  Mrs.  Hesketh 
suddenly.  "  As  for  you,  Letty,  who  are  young — ■ 
without  youth." 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  279 

"  What  about  me  ?  "  she  asked  with  a  smile.  "  I 
am  getting  on  for  three  times  ten  !  " 

"  You  are,  and  you  are  wasting  your  hfe  here — 
youth — beautiful  youth — is  passing,  and  why,  oh, 
why  don't  you  value  it  ?  This  I  know  is  the  cry  of 
age  and  regret :  I  am  an  old  woman,  I  am  satisfied 
to  sit  still,  and  be  a  spectator  ;  but  you,  who  are 
twenty-eight,  and  have  golden  years  awaiting  you, 
oh,  how  can  you  endure  this  existence  of  passionless 
monotony  ?  " 

Amazed  by  such  an  unusual  outburst,  Letty  replied  : 

"  I  have  Cara,  plenty  of  occupation,  and  no  cares." 

"  No  cares  !  "  echoed  her  companion,  and  she 
gave  a  shrill  laugh.  "  Even  at  Les  Plans,  Care  may 
put  his  head  in  at  the  door.  Voyaging  in  smooth 
waters — has  its  risks.  Another  thing,  it  is  not  good 
for  Cara  to  lead  this  wild,  independent  life  ;  she  ought 
to  be  at  home  associating  with  girls  of  her  own  class. 
Listen  to  me,  Letty,"  laying  as  she  spoke  an  impressive 
hand  on  her  knee,  "  I  am  a  lonely  woman  ;  I  am  fond 
of  you.  Suppose  you  and  your  girl  come  over  to 
England,  and  make  your  home  with  me?" 

But  in  spite  of  a  loving,  eloquent,  and  insistent  invi- 
tation Letty  could  not  be  induced  to  abandon  Les  Plans. 

"  I  love  you,  and  I  am  grateful,  dearest  Cousin 
Maude,  my  friend  from  the  first  ;  but  here  I  am  at 
home,  and  here  I  feel  safe." 

"  What  is  there  to  fear  now  ?  "  demanded  Mrs. 
Hesketh.  "  Blagdon  will  never  trouble  you ;  but 
should  he  do  so,  I  will  deal  with  him — leave  him  to  me." 


280  THE   SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

"  He  would  take  Cara  from  me,  and  just  at  the 
critical  age,  when  her  character  is  forming." 

"  Her  character  is  formed,"  rejoined  the  other,  with 
conviction.  As  she  spoke,  her  eyes  were  fixed  upon  a 
neighbouring  apple  tree,  with  Fritz  among  its  shaking 
branches ;  immediately  below,  stood  an  expectant 
figure  with  an  imperious  voice,  and  outstretched 
skirts. 

"  I  have  a  teiTible  presentiment,"  continued  Letty, 
"  so  keen,  that  it  actually  hurts  me." 

"  Bah,"  scoffed  Mrs.  Hesketh,  "  I  don't  believe  in 
such  things, — in  absolutely  nothing  bej^ond  the  range 
of  sense.  Why  go  to  meet  trouble  half  way  ?  What 
is  your  bug-a-boo  ? 

"  That  Hugo  will  find  us  yet — and  take  Cara  from 
me." 

"  My  dear,  I  can  assure  you,  that  if  Cara  is  taken — 
against  her  will — ^as  I  believe  would  be  the  case — she 
will  make  her  father  rue  the  day,  and  bitterly  repent 
of  his  folly  in  sackcloth  and  ashes.  For  my  part," 
she  went  on  courageously,  "  I  wisli  to  goodness,  he 
would — steal  her  !  " 

"  Oh,  Cousin  Maude  !  "  cried  Letty,  turning  to  her 
a  glowing  face,  "  what  a  cruel,  cruel  thing  to  wish  !  " 

"  Possibly  it  was ;  but  honestly  I  feel,  as  they  say  in 
Norfolk,  '  as  if  I'd  like  to  do  someone  an  injury,' 
when  I  think  of  the  years  that  your  locust  has  eaten." 

This  announcement,  transfixing  and  incredible, 
had  the  effect  of  reducing  Letty  to  absolute  silence. 
Sometimes  Cousin  Maude  liad  odd  moods  and  made 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  281 

wild  and  extraordinary  statements  ;  on  such  occasions 
it  was  prudent  to  be  mute. 

Presently  they  rose,  and  wandered  back  to  the  farm, 
and  were  greeted  by  Cara,  who  came  bounding  to 
meet  them,  screaming  at  the  top  of  her  voice  : 

"  Tea  is  ready,  and  I'm  so  hungry — there's  hot 
cakes  and  cherry  jam  !  " 

A  few  days  later,  Mrs.  Hesketh  ordered  a  sleeping- 
berth,  and  prepared  to  return  to  Thornby,  where 
important  law  business  awaited  her. 

"  How  I  shall  miss  you,"  said  Letty,  as  they  took 
their  last  walk  together  by  the  lake-side,  and  watched 
the  lights  begin  to  twinkle  in  far-away  Lucerne. 
"  It  will  be  worse  for  me,  than  if  you  had  never  come." 

"  Nonsense,  my  dear,"  rejoined  her  friend  ;  "  it 
is  only  in  story-books  that  people  are  missed.  As  for 
you, — you  have  the  remedy  in  your  own  hands." 

But  Letty's  determination  was  unshaken,  and,  as 
her  companion  angrily  declared  : 

"  You  are  always  strong  and  obstinate,  where  you 
ought  to  be  yielding ;  and  jaelding,  where  you  should 
be  firm." 

Mrs.  Hesketh  departed,  and  left  behind  her  such  an 
aching  void,  that  more  than  once  Letty,  the  obstinate, 
found  her  resolve  sorely  shaken,  and  felt  half  inclined 
to  take  all  risks,  and  follow  her  friend  to  England. 


CHAPTER   XXVII 

ONE  lovely  September  afternoon,  when  the  Schiller 
touched  at  the  pier  at  Mitzau,  among  the 
passengers  who  boarded  her,  were  Cara,  her  mother,  and 
Fritz.  The  boat  was  crowded  with  trippers  and 
tourists,  and  when  Letty  had  with  difficulty  arrived 
on  the  first-class  upper  deck,  there  was  not  a  seat 
to  be  found.  As  she  glanced  about  her  vaguely,  a  tall, 
bronzed  Englishman  in  grey  tweed,  got  up  and  offered 
her  his  place.  When  she  looked  round  to  thank  him 
and  discovered  no  stranger's  face,  but  that  of  Lancelot 
Lumley,  her  amazement  was  such,  that  for  a  moment 
she  felt  dizzy  ;  for  his  part,  it  was  fully  half  a  minute 
before  Major  Lumley  realised,  that  this  remarkably 
pretty  girl  in  a  summer  gown  and  shady  hat,  was  his 
lost  love,  Letty  Blagdon ! — Letty,  who  had  befooled 
him,  made  him  the  prey  of  her  indecision,  and  the 
laughing-stock  of  his  acquaintance. 

How  often  in  camp  and  cantonment,  had  he  sworn 
to  himself  to  put  her  out  of  his  head  and  his 
heart ;  he  had  even  embarked  on  other  love  affairs ; 
many  ladies  had  smiled  on  Major  Lumley,  who  was 
handsome,  popular,  and  likely  to  have  a  distin- 
guished career.  But  somehow  his  flirtations  had 
never  advanced  ;    at  the  back  of  his  mind,  his  heart, 

282 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  283 

his  vision,  rose  the  figure  of  Letty.  Now  here  she 
stood  before  him  in  real  hfe,  and  as  she  looked 
up  with  her  earnest  Irish  eyes,  he  knew  that  her  hold 
upon  him  was  stronger  than  ever.  How  young  she 
seemed  !  like  the  sister  of  the  tall  girl,  who  had  joined 
her. 

"  Letty  ./  "  he  said  at  last  ;  he  had  grown  pale  under 
his  tan.  "  And — and  " — holding  out  his  hand — "  I 
suppose — this  must  be  Cara  ?  " 

Cara,  agreeably  conscious  of  her  own  appearance, 
was  dehghted  to  be  accosted  by  this  distinguished- 
looking  Englishman.  Her  mother  appeared  to  have 
no  friends,  except  hateful  Mrs.  Hesketh — here,  how- 
ever, was  another  of  a  very  different  stamp  ! 

At  first  it  seemed  to  be  he  and  Cara,  who  were  so  well 
acquainted,  and  carrying  on  a  brisk  conversation. 
Presently,  she  was  summoned  by  Fritz  to  interview  a 
monkey,  and  her  mother  and  Lumley  were  alone. 

"  And  so  all  these  years  you  have  hidden  yourself  in 
Switzerland,"  he  said,  as  together  they  moved  to  the 
side.  "  Frances  would  never  divulge  your  address. 
What  an  amazing,  miraculous,  chance,  this  meeting. 
I  just  missed  the  earher  boat  by  one  minute.  I  am  not 
superstitious,  but  there  is  something  uncannily  signifi- 
cant in  our  coming  across  one  another  in  this  way." 

The  couple,  leaning  over  the  bulwarks,  indifferent 
to  their  surroundings,  had  much  to  say  to  one  another 
as  the  Schiller  forged  along  through  water  of  a  deep 
peacock  blue,  shaded  in  the  distance  to  a  silvered  sur- 
face.   By  degrees,  as  Letty 's  tongue  became  loosened, 


284  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

she  gave  her  companion  a  rapid  account  of  her 
Hfe  during  the  past  seven  years,  and  it  was  evident 
to  her  hstener  (though  not  to  herself)  that  her  existence 
had  been  one  of  entire  self-sacrifice  for  the  child. 
He  on  his  part,  talked  of  the  death  of  his  father,  of 
Frances,  of  his  brother  officers,  his  work,  and  his 
prospects. 

"  I've  just  got  a  shove  up,"  he  said,  "  and  been 
posted  to  a  good  job.  I'm  on  my  way  back  from 
leave,  and  taking  the  Italian  lakes  en  route,  as  I 
have  a  week  to  spare.  I  saw  Mrs.  Hesketh  at  home  ; 
she  had  lately  come  back  from  Switzerland.  She 
never  told  me  that  she  had  seen  you." 

"  No,  and  when  she  was  out  here,  she  never  told  me 
that  you  were  at  home  on  leave." 

"  I  suppose  she  thinks  silence  is  best — and  that  all 
is  over."  Seeing  Letty's  bare  hand  lying  on  the  rail, 
he  took  it  up,  and  said  : 

"  I  say,  you  don't  mean  that  you  are  still  wearing 
that  fellow's  ring  !  " 

In  another  second,  it  was  removed  from  her  finger, 
the  next,  it  glittered  through  the  sunshine,  and  fell 
into  the  blue  water,  with  a  faint  splash. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  stammered,  "  how  dared  you  ?  how 
could  you  ?  " 

"  How  could  yo'H,  Letty  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  shall  have  to  replace  it  at  once. — I  wonder 
if  Cara  will  miss  it  ?  " 

"  What  harm  if  she  does  !  Look  here,  Letty,  I 
believe  good  fortune  deliberately  arranged  this  meet- 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  285 

ing,  and  now  I  intend  to  make  hay  whilst  the  sun 
shines.  Will  3^011  marry  me,  and  come  with  me  to 
India  ?  " 

"  Lancelot  ! "  she  exclaimed,  raising  a  scared 
face  to  his.  "  Yon  take  my  breath  away.  Are  you 
crazy?  " 

"  Never  more  absolutely  sane,  or  sensible,  in  my 
life.  We  have  lived  down  scandal,  I  hope  and  believe, 
and  what  is  there  now  to  stand  between  us  ?  Blagdon 
is  by  all  accounts  consoled — I  say  no  more — and  you 
are  free.  Do  you  return  to  the  farm  by  the  next  boat, 
make  all  arrangements,  pack,  and  order  what  you  re- 
quire in  the  way  of  outfit  in  Lucerne.  For  my  part,  I 
shall  look  up  the  Consul,  and  the  chaplain,  wire  for 
another  passage,  and  as  Mrs.  Lumley,  you  will  sail 
from  Genoa  this  day  week." 

"  No,  no  !  "  she  insisted,  "  don't  go  on." 

"  But  I  haven't  half  done  yet !  You  will  like  India ; 
you  were  born  out  there,  and  have  often  heard  the  East 
a-calling.  You  know  you  have  always  wished  to  see  it, 
and  India  will  like  you.  After  making  a  bad  start 
at  seventeen,  you  begin  life  over  again  at  twenty-nine, 
and  I  declare  to  you,  Letty,  you  don't  look  a  day  older 
than  twenty-four — you  and  Cara  might  be  sisters. 
Now  what  do  you  say  ?  "  and  his  eyes  held  hers  with 
an  intentness  remarkable  in  human  gaze. 

After  a  pause  she  faltered  : 

"  And  what  about  Cara  ?  " 

"  Cara  !  "  he  echoed.  "  Why,  you  will  leave  her  at 
home,  to  be  sure.    You  have  done  your  share  for  her 


286  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

nobly,  and  it's  time  she  went  to  school — she  is  a  big 
girl  for  her  age." 

"  Oh,  but  I  could  not  part  with  her.  If  I  were  to 
desert  her,  and  send  her  to  England,  her  father  would 
claim  her  at  once.   Couldn't  we  take  her  out  with  us?  " 

"I'm  afraid,"  and  he  hesitated,  "  that  Burmah — 
where  I  shall  be  for  the  next  year — would  be  terribly 
trying  for  a  girl  of  her  age — in  fact,  to  make  no  bones 
about  it,  if  we  took  Cara  out,  she  would  be  running  a 
serious  risk." 

"  Then  that  settles  it,"  said  her  mother,  with 
decision.  "  Lancelot,  I  am  very,  very  sorry,  un- 
speakably sorry — but  you  must  return  alone." 

It  was  in  vain,  that  Major  Lumley,  hke  Mrs.  Hesketh, 
argued  and  urged  ;   his  eloquence  was  wasted. 

"  I  would  go  with  you  with  joy  and  thankfulness 
to  the  end  of  the  earth — but  my  first  duty  is  to  Cara." 

Lumley  glanced  at  the  tall,  well-grown  girl,  with 
her  rosy  cheeks,  and  quick,  bold  eyes ;  and  it  seemed 
to  him,  that  she  was  already  well  advanced  in  the 
wiles  of  a  coquette  as  she  laughed  at,  and  teased  the 
handsome  youth,  her  companion. 

"  After  all,  Letty,  your  girl  is  perfectly  safe  in 
England,"  he  urged.  "  Frances  will  find  her  a  good 
school,  and  I  shall  pay  for  her  education.  I  feel 
positively  certain,  that  Blagdon  will  never  trouble  his 
head  about  her.  He  and  his  sister  are  mixed  up  with 
racing  sets,  and  have  no  thoughts  for  anything  else — 
and  then,  reflect — we  are  not  old,  you  and  I.  We 
have  known  one  another  for  years.    Time  is  passing  ; 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  287 

here  is  the  chance  of  our  Hves,  and  you  want  to  throw 
it  away.  If  we  part  now,  we  may  never  meet 
again." 

Letty  made  no  audible  repl}'.  She  shook  her  head 
sadly  and  hopelessly,  and  tears  ran  down  her  face 
and  dripped  on  the  side  of  the  steamer. 

Just  at  this  unpropitious  moment  Cara  rushed  up, 
and  unceremoniously  thrusting  herself  between  her 
mother,  and  her  companion,  said  : 

"  Mummy,  I  want  a  franc  to  buy  some  fruit  ! 
Wh}^  Mummy,"  she  exclaimed,  "  you  are  crjnng  ! 
How  funny  !  " 

"  Do  you  think  crying  funny  ?  "  demanded  Lumley, 
and  his  voice  was  sharp. 

"  Yes — for  Mummy,"  she  answered,  unabashed  ; 
"  she  never  cries  except  at  nights — when  she  thinks 
no  one  knows.    I  cry  often." 

"  You  speak  as  if  you  enjoyed  it,"  he  continued, 
giving  Letty  time  to  recover  her  composure.  "  What 
makes  you  cry  ?  " 

"If  I  want  things  and  Mummy  says  no ;  but 
when  I  cry,  she  always  gives  in."  A  pause,  and 
staring  steadily  at  him,  she  continued,  "  What  a 
long  talk  you  and  the  Mum  have  had — all  the  way 
from  Gersau,  to  Tell's  Chapel — and  we  are  close  to 
Fluellen." 

Yes,  so  they  were,  and  at  Fluellen  he  joined  the 
mail-train,  which  bore  him  south.  It  was  the  end  of 
his  journey  ;  it  was  also  the  close  of  his  brief  dream 
of  hope. 


288  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  Here,"  he  said  to  Cara,  handing  her  a  httle  bit 
of  gold,  "  run  and  buy  fruit,  and  don't  bother  your 
mother." 

"  Ah  ha  !  "  she  answered,  with  a  knowing  nod, 
her  eyes  bright  with  incipient  coquetry,  "  want  to  get 
rid  of  me,  don't  you  ?  but  thank  you  a  milHon  times 
all  the  same,"  and  kissing  her  hand,  she  ran  off  to  join 
Fritz  and  exhibit  her  prize. 

"  You  must  give  me  your  address,"  said  Major 
Lumley,  turning  to  Letty,  "  and  we  will  write  to  one 
another."  As  he  spoke,  he  produced  a  notebook. 
"  I  hope  you  will  never  repent  of  your  answer  ;  but 
I  believe  in  my  heart,  that  some  day  you  will  be  sorry 
for  yourself — yes,  and  for  me.  One  word  more  : 
Cara  will  be  a  beauty — in  a  year  or  two — and  rule 
you,  and  be  in  that  respect,  her  father's  daughter. 
You  are  always  a  slave  to  someone  ;  first  it  was  your 
aunt,  then  Blagdon,  now  the  girl — and  /  would  give 
you  freedom." 

For  the  moment  Letty  was  unable  to  speak  or 
control  her  trembling  lips.  The  boat  was  alongside  ; 
already  the  passengers  were  crowding  ashore  and 
streaming  towards  the  station.  As  the  luggage  was 
being  carried  away,  she  found  her  voice  at  last,  and 
faltered  : 

"  No  doubt,  once  you  are  gone  I'll  wish  I  had 
said  yes,  and  if  I  said  yes,  I  would  be  wishing  I'd 
said  no.  You  must  think  me  obstinate,  heartless, 
and  weak;  but  I  have  never  cared  for  anyone  as 
much  as  for  you — and   never  will.     I've  thought   of 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  289 

you  every  day,  during  these  long,  lonely  years — but 
I  must  put  duty  first." 

"That  is  to  say,  Cara,"  he  broke  in  angrily,  "ap- 
parently you  have  no  personality,  no  identity  of  your 
own.  Well,  Letty,  let  us  hope  that  Cara  will  reward 
you.  Here  we  are  !  I  see  the  fellow  has  got  me  an 
empty  carriage,"  and  he  halted.  "  If  ever  3^ou  are  in 
trouble — bad  trouble — cable  for  me,  and  I'll  come 
back,  and  see  you  through.  Now  good-bye."  He 
wrung  her  hand,  and  without  another  glance  climbed 
into  the  compartment.  As  the  heavy  St.  Gothard 
express  dragged  itself  out  of  the  station,  he  never 
looked  out  of  the  window  or  waved  a  signal  to  the 
stricken  figure  on  the  platform.  Lancelot  had  gone, 
he  had  departed  in  disappointment,  and  displeasure. 

Meanwhile  Cara  (who  had  been  occupied  at  a  fruit 
stall,  and  subsequently  sought  a  restaurant,  there 
to  indulge  Fritz  and  herself  with  coffee  and  cakes) 
appeared  to  have  totall}''  forgotten  her  parent.  On 
the  return  journey,  Letty  descended  into  the  empty 
fore  cabin — the  emotion  of  the  recent  scene  was 
still  thrilling  all  her  pulses — and  there  she  wept 
unobserved,  and  unrestrained,  the  whole  way  back 
to  their  own  particular  landing-stage, — mercilessly 
tortured  by  the  clamouring  questions,  had  she  done 
right  ?   had  she  done  wrong  ? 

The  problem  was  unsolved,  when  the  steamer  touched 
at  Mitzau  ;   it  remained  unanswered,  for  years. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII 

SEVERAL  summers  had  passed  since  that  dramatic 
meeting  on  the  Schiller,  and  these  swiftly  flying, 
monotonous  years,  had  left  their  mark  upon  Les  Plans 
and  its  belongings.  One  fine  spring  morning  Mordi, 
the  queen  of  cows,  had  been  driven  from  the  orchard 
by  a  strange  man, — a  butcher  from  Lucerne.  In  his 
company,  Mordi  took  her  first  and  last  trip  upon  the 
familiar  lake,  and  her  comrades  knew  her  no  more. 
Karo,  the  farm's  brown  and  white  guardian,  had 
recently  died,  suddenly  and  mysteriously.  He  was 
found  at  his  post,  the  entrance  door,  stiff  and  stark. 
Jan  Jost  was  more  bent  and  rheumatic  than  formerly ; 
his  wife  more  wrinkled  and  shrewish ;  but  naturally 
the  most  remarkable  change  was  to  be  seen  in  the  two 
young  people,  Fritz  and  Mitli.  Fritz  at  twenty-three 
was  well  educated,  and  well  thought  of, — especially  by 
farmers  with  daughters,  on  account  of  his  prospects  ; 
by  the  daughters,  because  of  his  celebrated  prowess  in 
sports,  his  handsome  face,  and  lithe  activity. 

Since  his  course  at  Zurich  was  finished,  Fritz  had 
lived  at  home,  helping  somewhat  fitfully  to  work  Les 
Plans.  His  mother  seemed  a  little  grimmer  and  more 
taciturn, — indeed,  her  manner  was  occasionally  for- 
bidding,— always  working — or  always  knitting,  with 

290 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  291 

unceasing  fury,  and  always  keeping  her  thoughts  to 
herself; — these,  were  chiefly  occupied  by  her  son,  and 
Mith. 

Mitli,  in  her  seventeenth  year,  was  tall  and  fully 
developed  ;  she  looked  older  than  her  age,  and  beyond 
a  flawless  complexion,  ropes  of  yellow  hair,  and  a  pair 
of  gay  blue  eyes,  was  not  endowed  with  the  usual 
attributes  of  '  sweet  seventeen.'  She  took  after  the 
Blagdons  in  figure  and  character,  and  was  of  a  deter- 
mined, masterful,  and  restless  disposition.  Her  in- 
tellectual faculties  were  dull ;  she  evinced  no  taste  for 
literature  or  reading,  beyond  the  daily  paper,  Le  Monde 
Amusant,  and  sundry  and  various  French  novels. 
As  for  her  mother's  pursuits,  needlework,  music, 
and  gardening,  she  hated  them  impartially  ;  sewing 
tried  her  eyes,  gardening  gave  her  a  backache,  music 
was  a  bore.  Tennis,  dancing,  skating  were  more  to  her 
taste.  She  rowed  on  the  lake,  and  climbed  the  hills 
with  Fritz,  and  accepted  his  love,  his  homage,  and  his 
gifts,  with  radiant  complacency.    Such  was  Cara  ! 

Of  late,  she  had  spent  most  of  the  year  in  Lucerne, 
not  merely  in  winter  with  her  mother  in  the  Weggis- 
gasse,  but  in  summer  too.  There  was  such  difficulty 
about  coming  and  going  from  Les  Plans  ;  the  hours 
of  the  steamers,  did  not  suit ;  the  child's  education 
must  not  be  neglected,  and  after  considerable  demur, 
and  pressure,  it  had  been  arranged  for  Cara  to  board 
with  the  family  of  one  of  her  friends,  and  attend  the 
convent  as  an  externe,  returning  home  for  week-ends, 
and  all  holidays.     Her  godmother   had  insisted  on 


292  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

paying  for  her  education,  and  her  mother  reluctantly 
submitted  ;  for  in  spite  of  good  prices  for  lace,  the 
work  was  tedious,  and  Cara's  expenses  for  dress  and 
amusement  had  become  surprisingly  heavy.  She  dis- 
played an  extravagant  fancy  for  expensive  hats  and 
frocks  and  shoes, — and  when  she  wanted  money — an 
overpowering  seductiveness,  that  her  mother  was 
totally  unable  to  resist.  Cara's  sweet  kisses,  caresses, 
and  endearing  epithets,  were  as  balm  to  a  heart  that 
was  starving  for  love,  and  she  plied  her  needle  bravely 
in  order  that  the  child  should  look  nice,  and — as  a 
natural  sequence — be  happy. 

The  '  child  '  ran  accounts  in  her  mother's  name  at 
Schweizer's  and  other  shops,  and  when  the  bills  pre- 
sented themselves  in  the  shape  of  so  many  shocks, 
Cara  would  excuse  herself  by  sa3nng,  in  an  airy  way  : 

"  Well,  darling  Minn,  it's  all  your  own  fault  !  Ever 
since  I  was  a  baby  you  have  made  a  fuss  about  dressing 
me,  and  don't  I  do  you  credit  ? 

She  did  ;  there  was  no  denying  the  fact.  In  a 
beautifully  cut  embroidered  linen,  and  a  simple  French 
hat,  Cara  might  be  remarked  at  Hurlingham  or  Rane- 
lagh,  but  she  was  a  little  out  of  keeping  with  her 
background  in  a  farm  kitchen — where,  being  in  a 
hurry  to  catch  the  boat,  she  gobbled  her  hasty 
dejeuner  of  rice  and  stewed  veal. 

Cara's  independence  and  air  of  breezy  emancipation, 
had  come  by  degrees,  ever  since  she  had  gone  to  live 
with  her  friend  Berthe  Baer  on  the  slopes  of  the 
Drei  Linden.    This  change  of  abode  and  surroundings 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  293 

had  given  her  an  air  of  freedom  and  seh'-sufficiency, 
and  she  now  ruled  her  mother  with  an  absohite  sway. 
Grown  up,  her  own  mistress,  and  on  the  threshold  of 
life,  she  was  resolved  to  make  the  best  of  her  youth 
and  have  a  really  good  time ;  since  hers  was  a  hard, 
shrewd,  and  absolutely  pleasure-loving  character.  Cara 
was  fond  in  a  way  of  her  pretty  girlish  Mum, — who  was 
so  often  and  so  annoyingly  mistaken  for  her  sister — but 
the  Mum  was  so  tame,  unenterprising,  and  easily  con- 
tented ;  her  books  and  work  and  walks,  were  all  she 
asked  for ;  but  Cara,  notwithstanding  her  sharp  sight, 
was  mistaken.  Her  mother  was  far  from  being  con- 
tented. As  she  rambled  alone,  or  sat  at  her  lace 
cushion,  her  thoughts,  though  inarticulate,  were  many 
and  rebellious  ;  they  spoke  a  plain  language,  and  put 
many  crucial  questions  to  her  heart,  and  brain.  In  her 
life  of  thirty-five  years,  she  humbly  confessed  to  many 
fatal  errors.  Her  hrst  mistake,  was  in  marrying  Hugo 
Blagdon — that  was  an  act  of  sheer  cowardice.  The 
second,  her  muddled  runaway ;  the  third,  in  re- 
fusing Lancelot  Lumley's  appeal  made  six  years 
previously. 

Cara,  she  now  realised,  was  capable  of  standing  alone, 
and  successfully  lighting  her  own  battles.  Her  de- 
termination to  live  in  Lucerne,  had  proved  this  most 
decisively  ;  and  now  she  and  her  girl  were  no  longer 
so  much  to  one  another.  Cara  demanded  a  separate 
bedroom.  "  Two  in  a  room  was  so  stuffy,"  and  there 
were  no  nightly  talks  and  confidences,  and  any  hold 
she  ever  had  on  her  child,  was  imperceptibly  slipping 


294  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

away ;  the  girl  had  her  own  friends,  Luisa  Maas,  Hilda 
Vorgen,  and  the  Baers,  with  whom  she  boarded. 

She  and  Berthe  were  inseparable,  and  Berthe,  a 
simple-minded,  gigghng,  good-tempered  girl  of  eighteen, 
could  do  her  darling  no  harm.  One  question  repeatedly 
thrust  itself  forward  with  irrepressible  pertinacity  : 

"  Had  she  brought  Cara  up  wisely  ?  Had  she  not 
been  too  indulgent  ?  " 

In  the  most  serious  contentions  between  them,  she 
had  frequently  given  way.  Now  Cara  was  full  grown 
and  talked  as  a  woman — a  woman  with  weighty 
authority.  Where  had  she  acquired  her  experience  ? — 
from  books  ?  Since  Mrs.  Hesketh's  visit,  witnessing 
the  nakedness  of  the  land,  she  had  kept  Letty  well 
supplied  with  literature,  English  papers,  and  various 
small  matters,  that  made  life  more  easy  and  refined. 
Each  year  she  most  solemnly  pledged  herself  to  pay 
a  visit  to  Lucerne,  and  each  year,  the  promised  visit 
was  postponed  ;  but  now  an  event  had  occurred  that 
made  her  presence  absolutely  essential.  The  two 
young  people  at  Les  Plans  had  grown  up  under 
the  same  roof,  and  their  mothers  were  secretly 
anxious  respecting  their  future ;  Frau  Hurter  was 
particularly  perturbed ;  gloomier,  and  more  silent 
than  ever  ;  since  she  did  not  fail  to  note  how  slyly 
the  beautiful  Mitli  played  with,  and  fascinated  her 
distracted  boy.  Oh,  it  was  a  cat-and-mouse  affair ! 
Fritz  was  crazy,  he  was  under  a  witch's  spell,  he  could 
settle  to  nothing.  \i  Mitli  was  in  Lucerne,  so  was  he ;  if 
she  was  at  home,  he  hung  about  aimlessly,  or  took  the 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  295 

girl  on  the  lake.  He  had  become  unmanageable,  idle, 
unlilial,  ill-tempered.  What  would  the  end  be, — and 
when  ? 

Of  late  Mitli's  popularity  had  cooled.  Jost's  wife 
openly  hated  her,  and  even  Freda  admitted  that  the 
'  kindli '  never  cared  how  much  work  she  gave  anyone. 

One  afternoon,  as  Fran  Hurter  stood  in  the  door- 
way watching  the  young  couple  descending  the  well- 
beaten  track,  she  suddenly  made  up  her  mind  to 
speak ;  and  walking  over  to  where  Frau  Glyn  sat  in 
the  shade  absorbed  in  her  lace  pillow,  she  began  : 

"  You  see  those  two,  meine  Frau?"  indicating  the 
rapidly  disappearing  pair.    "  Your  girl  and  my  boy." 

Letty  looked  up,  followed  the  direction  of  the 
speaker's  hand,  and  nodded  and  smiled — yet  the 
air  and  expression  of  Frau  Hurter  was  portentous. 

"  They  have  grown  up  together  in  thirteen  years 
under  the  same  roof — and  now  " — she  paused,  and 
added  with  a  dramatic  gesture — "  one  of  them  must 
go — and  it  cannot  be  my  son." 

"  Of  course  not,"  agreed  Letty,  raising  a  bewildered 
face  to  the  stern  and  iron-willed  Frau.  "  But  I  don't 
think  I  understand." 

"  Have  you  then  no  eyes  ?  "  demanded  the  other 
in  a  voice  vibrating  with  passion,  "  not  even  the 
mother's  eyes  !  My  Fritz  is  madly — wickedly — in 
love  with  your  Mitli  !  " 

Letty  gave  a  stifled  exclamation,  hastily  put  aside 
her  work,  and  rose  to  her  feet. 

"  Yes,  he  is ;  and  more  and  more,  and  worse  and 


296  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

worse  every  time  he  comes  home,"  continued  his 
mother  hoarsely  ;  "  and  no  wonder.  Is  there  another 
such  face  in  the  Four  Cantons  ?  But  they  are  not  for 
one  another — no,  never  !  "  and  she  stamped  her  heavy 
foot  upon  the  gravel.  "  She  does  not  care  for  him," 
stooping  to  pick  up  an  apple,  "  no,  not  this  !  "  flinging 
it  away  with  a  vicious  jerk.  "  She  does  not  care 
for  anyone.  My  tongue  is  quiet — but  I  use  my  eyes. 
As  for  Fritz,  he  shall  marry  one  of  his  own  country, 
a  girl  of  his  own  class,  strong,  hard-working,  with  a 
fortune — such  there  are.  His  cousin  Gertrud,  in  the 
Oberland,  will  suit  me — and  it  has  been  arranged. 
Meanwhile  Mitli,  whom  he  sees  daily,  goes  to  his  head 
like  new  beer,  and  the  boy  is  as  one  drunken,  and 
mad !  and  so,  mein  liehe  Fran,  after  many  j'ears 
together,  and  I  may  say  friendship,  I  must  give  3^ou 
notice  to  leave." 

For  a  moment  or  two  Letty  made  no  answer.  Her 
little  world  had  been  suddenly  dissolved  and  was 
whirling  about  her.  She  looked  across  the  garden,  and 
its  tall,  white  lilies  and  standard  roses,  to  the  familiar 
brown  house,  with  green  shutters,  then  up  at  her 
own  open  window — with  its  accustomed  sponge, — her 
haven  for  so  long. 

At  last  she  said  : 

"  Very  well,  I  see  your  point  of  view,  and  I  am 
afraid  Cara  is  inclined  to  be  a  flirt.  The  child  likes  to 
make  herself  pleasant  to  everyone." 

"  No,  not  to  everyone,"  corrected  the  other  bitterly. 

"  I  am  really  very,  very  sorry  if  Fritz  is  attracted. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  297 

I  honestly  believed  it  was  just  the  old  boy-and-girl 
hking." 

"  Boy-and-giii  liking,  Jesii  Maria  !  I've  seen  Fritz 
kiss  her  empty  shoes,  I've  known  him  watch  her 
window  till  dawn  ;  these  are  the  follies  of  his  Italian 
blood.  I  hoped  Zurich  would  end  them,  but  he  is 
worse.  Ach  ye  I  he  is  ten  times  worse  !  So  now 
I  send  him  to  a  relative  near  Adelboden  for  some 
time  ;  there  he  will  learn  farming  and  good  sense. 
When  he  returns "     She  paused  expressively. 

"  We  shall  have  left,  and  to  tell  you  the  truth,  Frau 
Hurter,  this  move  has  been  in  my  mind  ;  but  I  love 
Les  Plans,  and  hate  the  idea  of  a  change.  I  have 
lately  come  into  a  legacy  which  brings  me  in  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  a  year,  and  as  Cara  be- 
lieves herself  grown  up,  it  is  time  that  we  go  to 
where  she  can  mix  with  her  own  country-people.  I 
am  undecided  where  to  live,  or  what  to  do.  I  have 
been  rooted  here  for  so  long,  that  Les  Plans  seems 
like  my  home." 

"  Dear  lady,  it  would,  and  gladly,  be  your  home 
for  always — but  for  our  two  children.  Young  people, 
will  be  young  !  " 

"  Well,  to-day  I  shall  write  to  Mrs.  Hesketh  and 
ask  her  advice,"  said  Letty,  collecting  her  work. 
"  How  soon  must  we  move — in  a  w^eek  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no  ;  this  is  July — the  end  of  September 
would  suit.  Fritz  will  be  away  helping  with  the 
harvest."  After  a  moment's  silence  she  added,  "  In 
my  mind  I've  long  had  this  to  say  to  you,  liehe  Frau, 


298  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

and  now,  thanks  be  to  God,  it's  said,"  and  she  turned 
about,  and  went  slowly  indoors. 

Letty  followed  her  and  ascended  to  her  room, — there 
to  collect  her  ideas  and  make  plans.  She  would  be  glad 
to  go,  and  yet  here  was  the  old  weakness — sorry.  At 
Les  Plans  she  had  outward  peace,  occupation,  her 
walks,  her  books,  and  her  letters  from  Lancelot.  These 
were  mere  pleasant  epistles,  such  as  a  man  would  send 
to  a  woman-friend,  aunt,  or  sister-in-law,  yet  how  she 
treasured  them.  Accounts  of  balls  and  race  meetings, 
she  read  them  over  and  over  again,  jealously  searching 
for  a  clue  to  some  girl,  the  happy,  happy,  fortunate 
girl,  who  would  one  day,  take  her  place. — Then  she 
loved  Switzerland  and  its  beautiful  scenery — with  the 
affection  of  a  native.  Cara,  on  the  contrary,  hated 
the  country  and  expressed  herself  to  her  mother  with 
scornful  vehemence. 

"  I  loathe  these  blue  skies,  blue  mountains,  blue 
lake,"  she  announced.  "  They  give  me  the  blues  ! 
As  for  the  wonderful  view,  you  rave  about,  I'd  sooner 
look  at  a  picture  postcard — much  less  fag  !  " 

Letty  presently  sat  down  at  her  deal  table,  and 
wrote  to  Mrs.  Hesketh. 

"  Do  try  and  come  at  once,  best  of  friends,  for  I 
want  you  urgently  ;  and  you  know  you  promised  to  be 
here  this  month,  sans  faute.  Frau  Hurter  has  just 
given  me  notice  to  leave  in  September.  Cara  is  now 
a  young  lady,  and  full  of  ideas  and  ambitions.  I 
implore  you  to  advise  me,  as  to  what  will  be  best 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  299 

for  her  ?    where  we  are  to  hve  ?    and  what  we  are 
to  do  ?  " 

Meanwhile  Cara  and  Fritz  had  gone  upon  the 
lake  in  a  superior  new  boat — a  recent  purchase. 
As  he  rowed  towards  the  Nasen,  and  she  reclined 
luxuriously  in  the  stern,  he  told  her  of  his  mother's 
plans  respecting  himself  and  Gertrud,  to  which  news 
Cara  listened  with  loud,  derisive  laughter,  and  a  beam- 
ing face.  He  also  related  how  he  was  to  lead  a  pastoral 
life  on  the  farm  of  a  patriarchal  relative — in  order  to 
learn  all  the  new  methods. 

"  But  when  I  come  back  in  September  you  will  be 
here,  Mitli,  won't  you  ?  " 

"  Why,  of  course,"  she  answered  impatiently. 
"  Am  I  not  always  here  ?  " 

"  And  you  will  write  often — often — as  before  ? 
Swear  it !  " 

"  Yes— often." 

"  If  I  thought  you  would  ever  care  for  anyone 
else," — and  here  the  passion  of  jealousy  flamed  in 
his  Italian  eyes — "  I'd  kill  myself — if  I  had  the 
least  doubt  of  you — I'd  " — and  he  paused  and  leant 
on  his  oars,  and  stared  at  Cara  fiercely — "  I'd 
upset  the  boat,  and  drown  us  both,  yes,  in  live 
minutes !  " 

"  Don't  talk  nonsense,  Fritz  !  You  know  I  am 
fond  of  you.  As  to  the  drowning — you  forget  that 
I  can  swim  !  " 

"  Not  if  you  are  out  here  in   the  middle, — and  in 


300  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

your  clothes — the  water  is  too  cold,  and  as  to  the 
depth,  the  lake  is  bottomless." 

"  Don't  talk  like  this,  it  bores  me  !  "  said  Cara, — 
secretly  uneasy  for  all  her  sang-froid.  She  was  aware 
that  Fritz  was  capable  of  mad,  rash  actions,  carried 
out  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment.  To-day  he  looked 
strange,  very  strange  !  The  veins  on  his  forehead  stood 
out  like  cord,  and  there  was  an  odd  light  in  his  eyes. 

"  Come,"  she  continued  authoritatively,  "it  is 
time  we  are  getting  back  ;  the  sun  is  slipping  behind 
Pilatus.  Keep  out  of  this  steamer's  wash,  and  row 
to  the  landing,"  and  without  another  word  he  obeyed. 

As  the  two  slowly  mounted  the  hill  hand  in  hand, 
half-way  in  the  ascent,  they  halted  on  a  little  plateau 
where,  under  some  ancient  pine  trees,  there  was  a 
rough  wooden  bench, — a  thoughtful  provision  not 
uncommon  in  a  land  of  views.    Here  Fritz  said  : 

"  My  mother  is  all  eyes,  like  the  dog  in  the  fairy- 
tale. She  sees  everything ;  but  she  will  see  me,  my 
own  master  before  long.  In  a  week  I  go, — and  the 
sooner  I  depart,  the  sooner  I  return  to  you,  my  Mitli, 
and  for  alweiys,"  and  he  snatched  her  into  his  arms, 
and  kissed  her  passionately. 

"  Well,  it  pleased  him,  poor  boy,"  said  Cara  to 
herself ;  "  he  was  certainly  extraordinarily  hand- 
some, and  what,  after  all,  were  a  few  kisses  ?  " 


M 


CHAPTER    XXIX 

RS.  HESKETH  comes  to-morrow,"  her  mother 
annomiced  to  Cara,  as  she  folded  up  a  letter. 
"  I'm  so  glad,  aren't  you  ?  " 

"  Comme  ca  !  "  she  rejoined  with  a  shrug.  "  Moi 
je  n'aime  pas  les  antiquities  I  " 

"Oh,  Cara !  and  she  has  always  been  so  kind,  and 
generous  to  you." 

"  And  why  not  ?  I  am  her  goddaughter,  the  child 
of  her  greatest  friend.  She  has  no  one  belonging  to 
her,  and  heaps  of  money.  If  she  is  so  rich  and  so  fond 
of  you.  Mum,  why  does  she  let  you  board  in  a  Swiss 
farm-house,  with  barely  enough  money  to  pay  for 
pension,  and  work  hard  to  make  up  the  rest  ?  She 
ought  to  have  us  to  live  with  her  !  " 

"  She  would  gladly — she  has  often  invited  us,  but 
I've  refused.  I  cannot  live  on  anyone,  I  must  be 
independent." 

"  Then  you  and  I  differ.  Mum.  I  am  ready  to  live 
on  anyone  who  will  give  me  a  good  time  !  " 

"  Dear  child,  you  are  only  joking,  but  for  goodness' 
sake  don't  say  such  things  before  Mrs.  Hesketh,  She 
might  think  you  were  serious." 

Mrs.  Hesketh  was  visibly  changed  and  aged  ;    her 

301 


802  THE   SERPENT'S    TOOTH 

hair  was  grey,  her  step  languid,  her  eyes,  however, 
still  held  their  old  fire. 

The  evening  after  her  arrival,  she  and  Letty  sat  in 
the  window  of  her  sitting-room  at  the  Paradis,  which 
overlooked  the  lake. 

"  I  came  at  once,  you  see,  my  dear.  If  I  had  not 
roused  myself,  I'd  never  have  done  it.  As  soon  as 
I'd  read  your  letter  I  rang  for  Tomlin,  told  her  to  pack 
and  wire  for  places,  and  behold,  me  !  " 

"  You  look  completely  done  up  and  frightfully  tired." 

"  I'm  always  done  up  and  tired  now  ;  the  fact  is, 
Letty,  I'm  an  old  woman." 

"  Oh,  don't  !  You  are  not,"  protested  Letty  with 
unusual  warmth. 

"  Yes,  I  am  ;  my  heart  and  brain  may  feel  young, 
but  my  body  is  aged.  Age  is  a  strange  thing  ;  it  creeps 
after  us  for  years,  and  we  go  marching  on,  imagining 
our  youth  or  middle  life  will  last.  All  at  once,  as  in  a 
night,  age  springs  out  and  seizes  you — you  look  at 
yourself  in  the  glass,  and  it's  there, — or  you  hear  it. 
And  I  can  assure  you  it  is  a  shock !  Some  years  ago 
I  was  waiting  to  be  served  in  a  hairdresser's,  and  I 
overheard  a  man  say  to  another  : 

"  *  You  go — take  the  old  lady  first.' 

"  Until  then  I'd  always  thought  m3^self  merely 
middle-aged  ;  but  I  looked  in  the  glass  as  the  man 
dressed  my  hair,  and  I  said  to  myself,  '  He  is  right. 
You  are  an  old  lady.'  Once  people  used  to  stand  up 
and  give  me  their  seats,  because  I  was  lovely ;  now, 
when  they  do  this,  it  is  merely  because  I  am  venerable. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  308 

and  she  sighed  profoundly.  "  And  you,  Letty,  have 
the  gift  of  perpetual  youth  !  " 

"  No,  indeed  ;  but  I  must  say  when  I'm  with  you  I 
feel  almost  a  girl,  and  when  with  Cara,  I'm  an  elderly 
woman." 

"  You  are  close  on  thirty-five  and  yet  you  look 
seven-and-twenty — even  in  broad  daylight.  Your 
calm,  healthful,  uneventful  life,  has  preserved  your 
beauty.  Such  an  existence  would  have  driven  me  mad. 
One  day  my  body  would  have  been  fished  out  of  the 
lake." 

"  No,  they  are  never  found;  the  lake  is  pitiless." 

"  Oh,  well,  before  we  begin  to  discuss  your  plans 
and  Cara — by  the  way,  a  handsome  young  woman  I — 
let  me  tell  you  all  my  news.  The  Dentons  are  pretty 
much  as  usual,  and  send  you  kind  messages.  You 
know  that  Frances  is  going  to  be  married  ?  I  motored 
over  to  Sharsley  to  lunch,  and  inspect  the  presents, — 
including  yours,  and  afterwards  we  walked  up  to  the 
Court.  My  dear,  it's  like  a  dead  place  !  Positively,  I 
expected  to  see  a  hearse  at  the  door.  The  shutters 
closed,  the  avenue  grass-grown,  not  a  soul  to  be  met 
or  seen.  I  believe  some  of  the  best  pictures  and  furni- 
ture have  been  carted  away,  and  sold.  Old  Scrope 
heirlooms, — and  the  Scropes  are  frantic.  Hugo's  racing 
comes  expensive.  He  and  Tom  Slater  have  a  string  of 
useless  animals,  who,  by  all  accounts,  eat  up  thousands 
and  thousands." 

"  And  where  does  he  live  ?  " 

"  He  has  the  same  rooms  in  Newmarket,  and  the 


sot  THE    SERPENT'S    TOOTTl 

house  in  town.  Comiie  Rashlcigh  is  often  there, 
though  she  still  holds  on  to  her  own  flat,  as.  of  Ci>nrse, 
she  never  knows  when,  and  by  whom,  she  nui}'  be  de- 
posed !  Cara  inherits  j'oiu-  eolouring  and  teeth,  but 
she  has  lier  aunt's  figure,  and  lier  aunt's  laugh — yes. 
and  her  father's  jaw." 

As  Letty  was  about  to  protest  : 

"  Yes,  my  dear,  and  her  aimt's  air  of  bu(\vant  eon- 
fidence.  There  is  nt>thing  undecided  about  Cara,  and 
I  can  gi-asp  the  fact,  that  she  has  her  mother  under  her 
thumb  !  Alas,  poor  Letty,  ymi  have  merely  changed 
your  yoke  !  " 

"  Oh,  dear  Cousin  Maude,  you  surely  cannot  judge 
already/  " 

Mrs.  Hesketh  gave  a  quick  nod ;  she  had  been  in  the 
compau}^  of  mother  and  daughter  for  several  hours, 
and  had  made  copious  notes. 

"  Do  you  think  Cara  is  going  to  be  a  comfort  to  you? 
and  a  compensatiiMi  for  all  you  ha\'e  relinquished  for 
her  sake  ? 

"  Yes.  of  course  1  do,"  replied  Letty  ;  but  her  coloiu^ 
had  risen,  and  her  eyes  no  longer  rested  on  her  com- 
panion, but  on  the  moonlit  lake,  and  a  cargo-barge  that 
went  drowsily  by. 

"  Ah,  that  is  good  news!  "  said  Mrs.  Hesketh.  bnt 
her  sardonic  tone  belied  her  speech.  "  And  so  you  are 
about  to  shift  your  sky  at  last — but  why  ? 

In  faltering  and  apologetic  terms,  Letty  related  her 
interview  with  Fran  llmter,  and  the  woman's  ulti- 
matum. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  805 

"  So  Cara  has  been  flirting,  has  she,  and  foohshly 
encoiu'aging  the  good-looking  Fritz  ?  " 

"  Not  exactly  that ;  but,  you  see,  they  grew  up 
together,  and  she  is  so  gay,  and  unconventional,  and 
pretty." 

"Ah,  well,  of  course,  you  must  go — but  where  ?  " 

"  I  am  sure  I  don't  know.    What  do  you  advise  ?  '" 

"  I  advise  England." 

"  On  two  hundred  pounds  a  year — impossible  1  And 
now  Cara  is  grown  up  she  must  be  well  dressed." 

"  So  I  see,"  agreed  Mrs.  Hesketh,  with  significance. 
"  That  embroidered  linen  never  cost  a  sou  less  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  francs.  Now,  my  advice  is  the  same  as 
ever,  come  and  hve  at  Oldcourt.  I  want  your  company 
badly ;  I've  made  a  will,  and  left  you  every  penny,  so 
you  really  ought  to  do  something  for  me  !  As  for 
Cara,  she  shall  go  to  a  good  finishing  school  in  Brighton 
for  the  next  twelve  months.  I  will,  of  course,  pay 
all  her  expenses.  Seventeen  is  much  too  young  for  a 
girl  to  come  out  into  the  world.  You  know  that,  Letty, 
from  your  own  experience — don't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  Cara  is  different  ;  she  has  decided  views 
— no  one  could  talk  or  coerce  her  into  anything  she  did 
not  wish  to  do." 

"  Ah  !  " 

"  And  she  would  laugh  in  your  face,  if  you  suggested 
sending  her  to  school." 

"  Would  she,  indeed  ?  " 

"  You  see,  she  has  been  at  school  at  Mitzau,  and 
Lucerne,  ever  since  she  was  eight." 

X 


806  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  And  what  has  she  learnt,  besides  the  art  of  holding 
herself  well,  putting  on  her  clothes,  and  offering  her 
crude  opinions  ?  " 

"  She  speaks  French  and  German,  she  plays  and 
sings  moderately,  dances  beautifully,  and  has  won 
several  tennis,  and  swimming  prizes." 

"  And  considers  her  education  complete.  I  see. 
Well,  we  must  take  a  little  time,  and  talk  things  over; 
when  I  know  more  of  Cara,  I  may  be  better  able  to 
help  you  to  make  up  your  mind.  It  is  to  give  you  this 
assistance,  I've  come  all  the  way  to  Lucerne."  Then, 
speaking  in  another  key,  "  Well,  we  shall  meet  to- 
morrow, and  if  you  will  fetch  me,  I'll  toil  up  to  the 
farm,  see  how  the  land  lies  for  myself,  and  have  a  look 
at  Fritz.  Now,  as  I  am  feehng  extra  old  and  tired,  I 
must  send  you  back  to  Les  Plans, — for  I  am  going 
to  my  dear  bed." 


CHAPTER    XXX 

MRS.  HESKETH  and  her  goddaughter  had  always 
been  secretly  antagonistic  to  one  another,  and 
as  days  went  by,  this  feeling  increased — especially  on 
the  side  of  the  girl,  who,  from  a  reluctant  parent,  had 
extracted  the  fact  that  the  meddling  old  woman  sug- 
gested sending  her  for  one  year  to  an  English  school ! 
Nevertheless  she  dissembled  her  sentiments, — for  the 
old  hag  was  rich  and  had  it  in  her  power  to  offer  motor 
trips  by  land  and  water,  and  to  give  delightful  dejeuners 
and  dinners  at  the  various  fashionable  hotels.  Natur- 
ally all  these  pleasures  were  for  the  sake  of  the  Mum — ■ 
but  she  participated !  At  this  season  (early  in  July) 
Lucerne  was  already  full,  and  Cara,  erect,  well  dressed, 
and  self-conscious,  was  sensible  of  being  the  admired 
of  many  eyes,  as  she  accompanied  her  two  chaperons. 
Occasionally  she  left  them,  and  escaped  to  join  her  own 
friends,  Colette  Vadier,  Freda  MuUer,  and  Berthe  Baer, 
in  picnics  and  teas.  Her  society  was  not  missed,  as 
her  mother  and  godmother  had  many  matters  to 
discuss,  that  were  not  intended  for  her  ears. 

How  and  where  the  Glyns  were  to  live  ?  was  a  question 
seriously  debated.  Letty  still  figuratively  clung  to  the 
Continent,  and  Mrs.  Hesketh  and  Cara — for  once  in 
accord — were  strongly  in  favour  of  a  home  in  England. 

307 


308  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

On  this  subject,  the  girl  and  her  godmother,  had  some 
talks,  and  on  one  of  these  rare  occasions,  Cara  posed 
as  the  poor  exile,  craving  to  see  her  native  land,  and 
to  live  like  other  young  women  of  her  age  and  nation. 

"  Dear  godmother,"  she  said  effusively,  "  how  I  wish 
you  would  use  your  influence  with  the  Mum  !  "  Then, 
leaning  her  elbows  on  her  knees,  locking  her  hands, 
and  assuming  a  confidential  attitude,  she  added,  "  To 
me,  it  always  seems  so  strange  that  we  have  no  English 
belongings,  no  letters  except  yours,  and  we  have  lived 
at  Les  Plans  for  thirteen  years  !  It  almost  looks  " — 
she  spoke  with  bated  breath,  staring  into  her  hstener's 
face  with  eyes  as  hard  as  two  blue  glass  marbles — "  as 
if — of  course,  only  to  you  would  I  breathe  it " 

"  Well,  breathe  it !  "  urged  Mrs.  Hesketh  impatiently. 

"  As  if,"  and  Cara's  voice  fell  to  an  awed  whisper, 
"  Mummy  had — done  something  !  " 

Her  godmother  examined  the  girl  from  under  her 
beautifully  marked  brows,  with  a  cold  and  critical 
scrutiny.  Was  it  for  this  disloyal  wretch,  that  poor 
Letty  had  sacrificed  youth,  and  love,  and  country  ?  Her 
face  was  rigid  as  she  answered  : 

"  Your  mother  has  her  own  excellent  reasons  for 
living  abroad.  This  life  of  labour  and  self-denial  has 
been  for  your  sake  ;  for  you,  she  has  made  great  sacri- 
fices.   I  hope  you  are  grateful,  Cara  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,"  with  a  shrug  ■  "  cela  va  sans  dire;  but 
I'm  her  only  child,  and  it's  her  business  to  look 
after  me.  Of  course,  she  can't  help  being  poor,  or 
afford  to  give  me  a  good  time,  but  I'm  sure  we  could 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  309 

struggle  along  somehow  in  London.  I've  heard  that  it's 
the  cheapest  place  in  the  world,  and  I  am  so  deadly 
sick  of  that  odious  Les  Plans,  with  its  horrible  smell 
of  cows  and  cheese ;  when  there  is  a  hitch  about 
supphes,  we  have  sausages,  and  smoked  meat,  and  nasty 
Swiss  messes.  And,  oh,  I'm  so  tired  of  looking  out  on 
the  opposite  shore  of  the  lake,  with  its  black  woods, 
grey  mountains,  and  skim-milk  sky.  Give  me  a  good 
street  !  " 

"  But,  after  all,  Cara,  you  are  not  much  at  home ; 
latterly  you  have  lived  chiefly  in  Lucerne,  and  I  know 
you  have  visited  Berne,  Zurich,  Interlaken,  and 
Lugano." 

"Yes — Switzerland — toujour s  Suisse!  I  am  crazy 
to  get  out  of  this  corner,  and  to  see  the  world." 

"  You  cannot  expect  to  see  much  of  the  world  on 
two  hundred  a  year,  can  you  ?  and  you  should  think 
of  your  mother." 

"  Of  course,  but  the  Mum — well,  she  is  no  longer 
young,  and  she  has  had  her  day — now  I  want  to  have 
mine  !  " 

So  poor  Letty's  attempts  to  satisfy  the  girl  had  been 
a  failure  ;  the  influence  of  devotion,  self-sacrifice,  and 
example,  was  powerless  against  the  giant  Heredity. 

In  mid- July  there  was  a  grand  fete  in  Lucerne,  and 
Mrs.  Hesketh  invited  Letty  and  her  encumbrance  to 
a  concert  at  the  Casino,  dinner  at  the  National,  and 
subsequently  to  see  the  illuminations,  and  return 
home  by  motor-boat. 

This  programme  was  faithfully  accomplished;  at  din- 


310  THE  SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

ner  in  the  restaurant  of  the  hotel,  Letty  and  her  girl, 
were  distinguished  among  a  vast  cosmopohtan  crowd. 
When  their  coffee-cups  had  been  emptied,  Cara,  in  her 
most  persuasive  manner,  asked  leave  to  run  away. 

"  I  want,"  she  said,  "  to  go  up  to  the  Drei  Linden 
and  sit  with  Berthe,  who  is  ill  in  bed  with  an  abscess  in 
her  face.  I'll  be  back  before  you  know  I'm  gone  ; 
I've  seen  the  fireworks,  and  the  lighting  up  of  the  old 
bridge,  a  thousand  times,  so  if  I'm  late,  please  don't 
worry.  I  shall  probably  stay  and  try  to  cheer  up  poor 
old  Berthe." 

"  But,  my  dear  Cara,  should  you  be  going  about 
alone  at  this  hour  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Hesketh  in  a  tone  of 
alarm. 

"  What — in  Lucerne  !  I  should  hope  so.  I  know  it 
from  end  to  end,  and  I  shall  be  perfectly  safe,  if  that  is 
why  you  are  anxious." 

When  Cara  had  resumed  her  hat  and  scarf,  the  two 
ladies  walked  with  her  to  the  entrance  of  the  hotel, 
and  watched  her  trip  across  the  tram-line,  and  vanish 
by  the  corner  of  the  English  church. 

"You  see,  the  child  has  a  kind  heart,"  said  Letty, 
"  and  is  ready  to  give  up  a  gay  evening,  to  go  and  sit 
with  her  sick  friend." 

"  Yes,"  agreed  Mrs.  Hesketh  ;    "I  own  I  am " 

she  was  about  to  say  *  surprised,'  but  hastily  sub- 
stituted the  word  '  impressed.'  "  Now,  we  may  as  well 
go  on  the  Quai,  and  see  what  is  to  be  seen." 

As  it  happened  there  was  a  good  deal  to  be  seen,  not 
merely  the  fiery  outline  of  the  bridge  and  towers,  the 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  311 

lights  on  Pilatus  and  Stanserhorn,  but  numbers  of 
lively  little  boats  carrying  Chinese  lanterns  ;  they 
looked  like  swarms  of  fire-flies.  The  Quai  was  almost 
impassable,  so  thronged  was  it  with  a  gay,  gaily  dressed, 
chattering  crowd ;  sightseers,  townsfolk,  and  the 
contents  of  various  hotels,  were  all  enjoying  the 
brilliant  scene,  and  the  delicious  evening. 

The  two  friends  were  interested  and  amused :  time 
passed  quickly,  the  Hof  Kirche  clock  struck  ten,  and 
yet  there  was  no  sign  of  Cara.  She  had  been  gone 
considerably  more  than  an  hour, — an  hour  and  a 
half. 

"  At  what  time  did  you  order  the  motor-boat  ?  " 
asked  Letty,  who  began  to  be  uneasy.  As  Mrs.  Hes- 
keth  uttered  the  word  '  eleven  '  a  sudden  flood  of 
rose-coloured  light  illuminated  the  entire  scene.  For 
a  moment,  every  object  was  visible  with  the  clearest 
distinctness,  the  ruddy  glow  recalled  a  transformation 
spectacle.  By  its  assistance,  the  ladies  beheld,  close  at 
hand,  a  small  skiff  carrying  a  jaunty  orange  lantern, 
and  in  the  boat  were  a  young  couple ;  a  man,  who  was 
twanging  a  mandoline,  whilst  a  laughing  girl  managed 
the  oars  with  practised  dexterity.  All  at  once  the 
man  bent  towards  her — and  then  the  light  failed. 

Letty  gave  an  audible  gasp. 

"  I — could  I  be  mistaken  ?  "  She  turned  on  her  com- 
panion a  face  of  horror. 

"  No,  I'm  afraid  not.  Four  eyes  are  better  than  two 
— that  was  Cara  rowing  about  with — Berthe  Baer  ! 
From  what  I  have  gathered  in  the  few  days  I've  been 


312  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

at  the  Paradis,  Cara  has  been  throwing  dust  in  your 
eyes  for  years." 

"  Oh,  Cousin  Maude — you — you — talk  to  Tomhn  !  " 
cried  Letty  with  indignation. 

"  No,  my  dear,  but  Frau  Hurter  has  been  talking  to 
me.  Her  son's  raging  jealousy  aroused  her  suspicions, 
and  she  has  kept  her  eyes  open." 

"  But  Cara  is  only  a  foolish,  wild,  headstrong  child  !  " 

"  Child  no  longer,  Letty,  but  a  young  woman  who 
is  not  to  be  trusted." 

"  What  am  I  to  do  ?  "  faltered  her  friend  helplessly. 

"  At  present,  nothing  ;  you  must  take  a  leaf  out  of 
Cara's  book,  and  pretend  we  have  not  seen  her — 
remember  that." 

And  in  accordance  with  this  advice,  no  remark  was 
made  when  twenty  minutes  later,  a  breathless  Cara 
scrambled  into  the  motor-boat,  full  of  voluble  excuses 
and  soft  caresses  for  her  sweet  Mum.  "  Berthe  had 
been  so  ill  and  miserable — she  had  not  dared  to  leave 
her  till  she  slept.  She  knew  her  darling  Mum  would 
forgive  her,  and  she  had  run  every  step  of  the  way 
down  the  Drei  Linden,  and  nearly  broken  her  neck  !  " 

As  the  motor-boat  squattered  off  from  the  stage,  a 
figure  stepped  out  from  under  the  trees,  waving  a 
handkerchief,  and  a  manly  voice  shouted  a  hearty 
"Auf  wedersehen  !  " 

"  What  a  funny  man  !  Who  is  he  shouting  to  ? 
Were  the  illuminations  good  ?  "  enquired  the  still 
breathless  Cara  with  an  air  of  innocent  curiosity. 

"  Yes,  I  think  so,"  rephed  Mrs.  Hesketh. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  318 

"  And  were  there  the  usual  httle  boats  with  lan- 
terns ?  " 

Here  indeed  was  audacity  ! 

"  Oh,  yes,  the  usual  little  boats." 

"  I've  not  missed  much — nothing  strange  or  un- 
common ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  tliere  was,"  began  Mrs.  Hesketh,  speaking 
with  rash  significance ;  but  a  pressure  from  her 
friend's  hand  restrained  further  explanation,  and  she 
muttered,  "  Of  course,  it  was  all  a  novelty  to  me." 

Had  Cara  not  been  so  intensely  absorbed  in  her  own 
amusing  reflections,  she  might  have  marvelled  at  the 
unusual  silence  of  her  two  companions.  Scarcely  a 
word  was  exchanged,  as  the  boat  raced  across  the 
moon-flooded  lake  in  the  direction  of  their  distant 
destination. 


CHAPTER    XXXI 

TWO  days  before  the  fete,  Mrs.  Hesketh  had  made 
the  unwelcome  discovery,  that  Mrs.  and  Miss 
Plassy  were  again  her  fellow-guests.  Many  years  had 
elapsed  since  they  met  at  the  Californie,  Cannes  ; 
but  her  memory  was  only  too  retentive.  There  was  no 
forgetting  the  tall,  faded  woman  with  a  stoop,  and  the 
agreeable,  gushing  daughter.  From  her  shady  seat  in 
the  grounds,  she  had  witnessed  their  arrival ;  and  as 
one  after  the  other,  the  ladies  descended  from  the  hotel 
bus,  she  was  sensible  of  a  distinct,  and  disagreeable 
shock.  Supposing  the  Plassys  were  to  meet  and 
recognise  Letty  ? — Letty,  so  little  changed  ! 

Undoubtedly  Mrs.  Plassy  was  a  conscientious 
student  of  the  daily  press ;  would  she  proclaim  to  all 
and  sundry  that  here  in  seclusion  and  sheep's  clothing 
was  the  notorious  divorcee,  who  had  kidnapped  her 
child  ?    And  if  so,  what  then  ? 

As  regarded  herself,  she  would  infinitely  prefer  to 
ignore  these  birds  of  Passage  and  of  Prey  ;  but  for 
her  friend's  sake,  it  behoved  her  to  walk  warily,  conceal 
their  arrival  from  her,  and  at  all  hazards  keep  them  in 
ignorance  of  Letty's  vicinity. 

As  might  be  expected,  Mrs.  Plassy 's  first  duty  on 
arriving  at  an  hotel,  was  to  scrutinise  the  list  of  guests. 

314 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  815 

As  her  eye  travelled  over  an  open  page  in  the  Visitors' 
Book  of  the  Paradis,  her  attention  was  arrested  by 
the  name  of  '  Hesketh,'  '  Mrs.  Carlton  Hesketh  and 
maid.  England.'  Yes,  it  must  be  the  same;  a  hateful, 
supercilious  woman,  whom  it  had  been  impossible  to 
placate  ;  a  woman  who  declined  to  approach  when  a 
vacant  seat  near  Mrs.  Plassy  was  patted  invitingly, 
and  when  endowed  with  a  card,  and  address,  made  no 
appropriate  return.  Such  a  creature  was  altogether 
insupportable,  and  she  decided  to  ignore  her  existence. 
However,  this  amiable  intention  was  frustrated  by  Mrs. 
Hesketh  coming  up  to  her  in  the  lounge,  and  claiming 
her  acquaintance.  She  was  actually  quite  gracious 
and  friendly,  and  made  flattering  enquiries  respecting 
her  health,  and  her  plans.  (It  was  good  news  to  the 
hypocritical  widow,  that  the  Plassys  were  moving  on 
to  Lucerne  in  a  day  or  two  ;  they  were  merely  stopping 
at  the  Paradis  awaiting  the  arrival  of  a  friend.) 

Thirteen  years  had  passed  over  the  heads  of  this 
roving  couple,  and  had  treated  them  with  callous 
cruelty.  Time  had  not  brought  a  suitor  to  the  feet  of 
Miss  Lydia,  and  on  the  other  hand  he  had  robbed  her 
of  her  lively  spirits,  and  a  certain  amount  of  colour  and 
hair.  Lydia  was  a  discontented,  embittered  woman 
who  had  missed  her  way  in  life,  and  was  nearing  the 
lamentable  frontier  of  forty.  She  had  a  good  figure,  an 
acid  tongue  (but  could  make  herself  agreeable),  and  a 
positive  genius  for  dress.  Lydia  and  her  mother  were 
sincerely  devoted  to  one  another.  Proud,  poor, 
ambitious,  they  contrived  to  make  a  brave  show  on  an 


316  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

income  that  would  seem  incredibly  small  in  proportion 
to  their  pretensions,  and  manner  of  living.  Their 
appearance  and  dress  were  ultra-fashionable,  they 
proclaimed  to  envious  listeners,  that  they  had  dis- 
covered a  secret  treasure  of  a  '  little '  dressmaker — but 
the  truth  was,  their  smart  gowns  were  second,  and  even 
third  hand — and  as  a  rule,  their  choice  of  hotels  and 
acquaintances  were  fastidious  and  select.  Lydia 
announced  that  they  were  obhged  to  live  abroad  on 
account  of  her  mother's  health ;  whilst  the  supposed 
invalid  exerted  her  failing  strength  in  order  to  get 
her  dear  girl  settled.  She  frequented  Alpine  resorts, 
famous  for  winter  sports,  popular  cures,  or  the  Riviera, 
and,  in  short,  any  hunting-ground  favoured  by  the 
eligible  British  bachelor. 

In  order  to  effect  these  costly  adventures,  the  Plassys 
were  at  times  obliged  to  exercise  the  most  rigid 
economies.  They  haunted  cheap  pensions,  where  they 
shared  a  room  for  eight  francs  a  day — food  and  light, 
tout  compris.  Here  they  made  their  own  tea  with  an 
Etna,  here  they  washed  their  handkerchiefs  and 
stockings,  here  they  wore  out  their  old  clothes,  and,  so 
to  speak,  girded  themselves  for  their  next  encounter 
with  Fortune. 

The  ladies  had  come  to  the  too-expensive  Paradis, 
in  pursuit  of  a  very  distant  connection,  a  valetudinarian 
old  bachelor  of  enormous  wealth  and  many  whims  and 
fancies — in  the  hope,  that  Lydia  might  prove  to  be  one 
of  them ! 

The  afternoon  succeeding  the  fete,  Letty,  unaware 


THE  SERPENT'S   TOOTH  817 

of  any  lurking  pitfalls,  descended  to  the  Paradis, 
accompanied  by  Cara,  and  Mrs.  Hesketh,  with  a  tremor 
in  her  heart,  invited  them  to  tea  in  a  retired  summer- 
house  in  the  grounds.  Here  they  would  be  safe.  As 
she  sipped  weak  tea,  she  noticed  Letty's  haggard  white 
face,  testifying  to  a  sleepless  night,  the  girl's  feverish 
restlessness,  and  roving,  dissatisfied  eyes.  It  had  long 
been  planned  that  Tomlin  was  to  have  '  an  afternoon 
in  Lucerne,'  accompanied  by  Cara  as  companion  and 
courier,  since  the  British  maid  could  not  speak  a  word 
of  any  language  but  her  own.  They  were  to  visit  the 
panoramas,  the  museum,  and  the  shops,  and  details 
of  the  expedition  were  being  finally  discussed,  when 
Mrs.  Plassy  and  her  daughter  strolled  by  arm  in  arm. 
For  a  moment  Mrs.  Hesketh's  heart  stood  still,  then 
throbbed  on — the  danger  had  passed  !  No — by  bad 
luck  Cara  gave  one  of  her  loud,  somewhat  foolish 
laughs — her  mother  had  spilt  her  tea. 

Mrs.  Plassy  dehberately  halted,  turned  about,  and 
approached. 

"  Oh,  dear  Mrs.  Hesketh,"  she  exclaimed,  with 
lifted  hands,  "  how  charming  you  all  look  !  How 
much  pleasant er  to  have  tea  out  of  doors."  Then, 
glancing  at  Letty,  she  paused,  and  in  a  different 
key  added,  "  I  think  I  have  met — Mrs. — er — 
Mrs. " 

"  Glyn,"  added  Mrs.  Hesketh  precipitately. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  with  a  slight  bow,  and  steadil}^  regarding 
her  she  added,  with  deadly  significance  : 

"  /  know  !  " 


318  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Then,  turning  to  her  daughter,  "  Lyddy,  you  have 
met  Mrs.  Glyn  at  Cannes." 

Lyddy  smiled  and  stared — ^her  expression  imphed 
that  she,  too,  knew  all. 

"  And  this  young  lady  ?  "  she  asked,  turning  to  Cara. 

"  My  daughter,"  rephed  Letty  in  a  faint  voice. 

"  Are  you  staying  here,  Mrs.  Glyn  ?  "  enquired  Mrs. 
Plassy,  and  her  tone  was  frigid  and  judicial.  "  I  did 
not  see  your  name  in  the  hotel  list." 

"  Oh,  no,"  broke  in  Cara,  attracted  by  these  fashion- 
able strangers,  "  we  live  in  a  farm  up  the  hill,  called 
Les  Plans." 

"  How  absolutely  delightful !  "  murmured  Miss 
Plassy.  "  It  must  be  so  healthy — and  so  secluded," 
and  she  threw  Letty  a  significant  glance. 

"  No,  it's  horrid  !  "  declared  Cara  rebelliously. 

"  Won't  you  sit  down,  and  have  some  tea  ?  "  urged 
Mrs.  Hesketh  (who  appreciated  the  crisis  at  its  full 
value).  "There  is  plenty  of  room,  and  Fll  send  for 
more  cups." 

"  I've  finished,"  announced  Cara,  rising  as  she  spoke 
and  offering  her  seat  to  Mrs.  Plassy,  who  sank  into  it 
with  an  air  of  satisfaction,  saying  to  herself  as  she 
drew  off  her  gloves,  "  This  will  save  me  three  francs  !  " 

"  I  don't  want  any  tea,  thank  you,"  said  Lydia 
Plassy,  "  so  Miss  Glyn  and  I  will  stroll  about,  and  make 
one  another's  acquaintance." 

"Yes,  a  capital  idea  !  "  assented  her  parent.  "Do 
you  two  girls  go  off  and  amuse  one  another,  and  we  old 
people  will  talk  of  old  times." 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  819 

Thus  dismissed,  the  girl  of  seventeen  and  the  girl  of 
thirty-seven,  walked  away  laughing  and  chattering. 
Their  dress  was  almost  identical — white  gowns,  large 
hats  wreathed  with  flowers ;  the  sole  difference  being 
that  Cara  wore  roses,  and  her  companion  a  wreath  of 
daisies. 

Meanwhile,  Mrs.  Hesketh  and  her  friend  proved  poor 
enough  company  for  a  guest  who  was  filled  with  a 
burning  curiosity, — and  they  with  a  sense  of  icy  terror. 

Mrs.  Plassy  knew  everything  ;  was  her  daughter 
in  the  secret  ?    If  so,  would  she  tell  Cara  ? 

The  bare  idea  caused  Letty  to  feel  faint !  the  child 
had  always  been  led  to  suppose  that  her  father  was 
dead;  this  fact,  never  actually  stated,  was  nevertheless 
implied.  She  followed  the  two  white  figures  with  strain- 
ing eyes,  and  a  wildly  beating  heart,  whilst  her  friend 
and  Mrs,  Plassy  discoursed  of  hotels,  and  society.  The 
latter  lady  pointedly  excluded  Mrs.  Glyn  from  the 
conversation ;  her  attitude  was  rigid,  her  glance 
expressed  hostility,  and  disdain. 

The  miserable  culprit  realised,  that  she  was  meeting 
the  eyes  of  a  world,  who  was  still  crying  shame  upon 
her,  and  measured  the  amount  of  condemnation  that 
awaited  her  in  circles  where  her  story  was  known.  Of 
late  years  this  fact  had  slumbered. — At  last  the  tension 
and  situation  became  unendurable,  and  with  a  mur- 
mured excuse  she  rose,  and  moved  away  in  search 
of  the  two  girls. 

"  How  young  she  looks  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Plassy. 
Then,  in  reply  to  a  glance,  "  I  mean  Mrs.  Blagdon." 


820  THE   SERPENT^S   TOOTH 

"  Hush  !  "  with  a  horrified  gesture  ;  "  I've  not 
heard  that  name  for  years." 

"  I  suppose,"  resumed  the  other,  and  her  manner 
was  aggressive,  "  she  has  buried  herself  at  the  farm,  on 
account  of  the  child  ?  " 

Mrs.  Hesketh  nodded. 

"  Does  the  girl  know  ?  "  she  asked  abruptly. 

"  Not  yet." 

"  Ah  ;  when  she  finds  out  that  she  is  the  only  child 
of  a  very  rich  man,  I  don't  think  I  should  care  to  be 
in  her  mother's  shoes  !  " 

"  Don't  you  ?  "  retorted  Mrs.  Hesketh.  "  Her 
mother  has  forfeited  her  income,  her  country,  her 
friends,  and  devoted  her  life  to  her — is  that  to  count 
for  nothing  ?  " 

"  I'm  afraid  that  young  people  are  shockingly  selfish 
and  ungrateful — especially  when  they  are  the  objects  of 
schemes  for  their  good,"  replied  Mrs.  Plassy,  who  was 
thoroughly  enjoying  herself,  and  determined  that  this 
detestable  enemy  should  be  remorselessly  tortured. 
"  She  looks  to  me  like  a  girl  who  had  expensive  tastes, 
and  would  appreciate  luxury  !  " 

"  You  don't  know  Hugo  Blagdon,"  declared  Mrs. 
Hesketh,  with  a  note  of  passion  in  her  voice,  "  nor 
the  bringing  up  that  he  would  have  given  his 
daughter  !  " 

"Yes, by  all  accounts  he  is  a  viveur !  and  he  looks 
dissipated.  I've  seen  him  at  Monte  Carlo.  Yet,  after 
all,  the  girl  is  legally  his  ;  he  is  her  father."  A  sharpness 
came  into  her  speech,  as  she  added,  "  Who  would  believe 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  821 

that  that  quiet  young  woman,  had  it  in  her  to  run  off, 
first  with  an  officer,  and  then  with  her  own  child  ? 
Still  waters  run  deep  !  " 

So  this  was  how  people  talked  of  her  friend  ! 

Mrs,  Hesketh's  temper  was  simmering  to  boihng- 
point  ;  she  began  to  realise  that  her  adversary  had  set 
her  heavy  heel  upon  her  neck,  and  intended  to  keep  it 
there. 

"  I  must  say  that  it  has  been  a  great  thing  for  Mrs. 
Blagdon — I  mean  Glyn — to  have  had  your  support," 
continued  Mrs.  Plassy  condescendingly. 

"  She  is  my  friend — the  best,  most  unselfish,  and 
pure-minded  woman,  I  have  ever  known." 

"  Yes,  yes — how  splendid  of  you  to  say  so  !  I  dare- 
say Mrs.  Glyn  was  not  quite  as  much  to  blame  as  people 
made  out."  (But  in  Mrs.  Plassy 's  tone  there  lurked  a 
reservation.)  "  And  you,  dear  lady,  are  so  unusually 
broad-minded — I  have  always  maintained  this." 

Mrs.  Hesketh  swallowed  her  fury,  and  steadied  her 
voice,  resolved  to  come  to  an  understanding  with  this 
odious  woman  at  all  costs. 

"  Cara  knows  nothing  of  the  past  as  yet,  and  it  is 
her  mother's  wish  and  mine,  that  she  remains  in 
ignorance  of  it — for  the  present." 

"  Your  wishes  are  natural.  If  her  mother's  story 
leaked  out  here,  it  would  be  so  awkward  for  the  poor 
girl ;  and  no  doubt  the  farm  people  might  make 
difficulties.  I  suppose,  according  to  our  English  law, 
Mrs. — Glyn — is  still  liable  to  criminal  prosecution  ?  " 

"  There  is  no  fear  of  that,"  replied  Mrs.  Hesketh, 


822  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

speaking  with  sharp  irritation  ;  "  no  effort  was  made  to 
recover  Cara.  Her  father  was  thankful  to  be  rid  of 
her." 

"  She  is  a  fine-looking  young  woman,  on  a  rather 
large  scale.  I  daresay  as  she  grows  older,  she  will 
become  like  her  aunt — too  fleshy  !  " 

"  May  be  so  ;  at  present,  the  important  matter  is, 
that  she  should  not  hear  that  she  has  an  aunt — or  a 
father." 

The  two  women  gazed  at  one  another  in  silence. 
Then  Mrs.  Hesketh,  mentally  shuddering,  prostrated 
herself  in  the  dust.  "  Mrs.  Plassy,  you  are  the  only 
acquaintance  who  knows  our  secret,  and  if  you  will 
keep  it — I  shall  look  upon  it  as  the  greatest  personal 
favour." 

"  Of  course  you  may  rely  upon  us,  dear  Mrs.  Hes- 
keth," replied  the  other  coldly.  "  Not  a  breath  shall 
the  child  hear  ;  as  a  matter  of  fact,  we  are  leaving 
early  to-morrow  for  Lucerne.  Our  cousin  finds  the 
hotel  too  near  the  lake,  and  insists  on  our  accompany- 
ing him." 

"  Your  promise  is  extremely  kind,"  said  Mrs.  Hes- 
keth, "  for  we  do  not  wish  to  disturb  the  present 
position  until  matters  are  settled  in  England.  And  if 
I,  in  any  way,  can  do  you  a  good  turn,  you  have  only  to 
name  it — now  or  later  ;  you  will  find  that  I  can  show," 
here  she  looked  into  her  opponent's  faded  eyes  with 
peculiar  significance,  "  substantial  gratitude  for  a 
friendly  silence." 

In  that  exchange  of  glances,  how  much  had  been  said 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  828 

and  answered  !  Mrs.  Plassy,  a  faithful  interpreter, 
felt  a  warm  glow  of  satisfaction.  That  expressive 
gaze  conveyed  a  promise  to  pay,  and  an  I.O.U.  of 
considerable  value — it  implied,  and  was  good  for, 
introductions,  entertainments,  prestige,  and — loans. 

"  I  am  sure  I  shall  be  glad  of  any  kindness,"  she 
murmured  with  lowered  ej^elids  ;  "  and  you  have  so 
much  in  your  power." 

"  x\t  any  rate,  you  may  reckon  on  me,"  declared 
Mrs.  Hesketh,  rising  from  her  chair.  "  I  have  a 
number  of  letters  that  I  really  must  write  for  this 
post, — and  I  am  sure  you  will  excuse  me  ?  " 

"  Of  course,  of  course — with  pleasure."  Which  was 
not  precisely  the  right  rejoinder.  Then  Mrs.  Hes- 
keth walked  away  across  the  grass,  carrying  her 
still  slender  figure  with  unusual  dignity,  though  her 
hands  were  shaking,  and  her  face  was  chalk- white.  She 
felt  utterly  shattered,  prostrated,  and  disgraced,  by 
the  recent  humiliating  interview. 


Two  days  later  Cara  and  Tomlin  proceeded  to  Lucerne 
for  the  promised  outing.  They  accomplished  a  good 
deal  of  shopping  and  sight -seeing,  and  Tomhn  proved 
wildly  extravagant  with  respect  to  chocolate,  picture 
postcards,  and  cheap  brooches  ;  but  at  the  end  of 
two  hours,  the  girl's  patience  was  threadbare ;  she  was 
bored  to  death.  She  hated  interpreting,  bargaining, 
and  standing  before  shop-windows, — the  contents  of 
which  she  knew  by  heart, — and  hailed  with  joy  the 


824  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

approach  of  Lydia  Plassy,  who  hahed,  and  accosted 
her. 

"  What  are  3^011  doing  in  Lucerne  ?  " 

"  Nothing  ;  we  have  been  shopping,  and  looking  at 
panoramas,  and  the  old  bridge,  and  the  museum." 

"  How  very  exciting  !  "  She  glanced  at  Tomlin,  who 
stood  transfixed  before  some  exquisite  embroideries. 
"  It  is  getting  on  for  four.  Do  come  along  and  have 
tea  with  me  at  Huguenin's  ?  She,"  nodding  at  the 
maid,  "  can  easily  amuse  herself,  and  meet  you  at  the 
boat." 

"  I  should  love  it,"  said  Cara  eagerl}^  then  added  in 
French,  "  She's  my  policeman — and  I'll  only  be  too 
thankful  to  be  rid  of  her.    She's  just  an  old  spy." 

Miss  Plassy  graciously  explained  the  situation  to 
Tomlin — who  recognising  the  lad}^  as  an  hotel  acquaint- 
ance of  her  mistress,  agreed;  by  no  means  reluctant, 
to  have  an  hour  to  spend  as  she  pleased,  and  to  be  left 
to  enjoy  the  shop-windows  to  her  heart's  content. 

Her  mother  had  told  Lydia, — from  whom  she  had 
no  secrets, — of  her  conversation  with  Mrs.  Hesketh, 
and  the  promise  and  understanding  which  now 
existed  between  them. 

"  Hateful  old  woman,  so  disgustingly  stuck  up  ! 
Have  you  forgotten  her  airs  and  snubs  at  Cannes  ?  " 
said  Lydia  spitefully.  "  Now  she  wants  something 
badly  she  is  as  sweet  as  honey — bah  !  such  people 
make  me  ill.  She  asks  you  a  great  favour — yes — but 
what  can  she  do  for  ws  ?  " 

"  My  dear,"  replied  her  mother,  with  impressive 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  325 

solemnity,  "  you  know  very  well,  that  she  has  it  in 
her  power,  to  be  a  very  helpful  friend." 

But  it  was  not  merely  the  snubs  that  still  rankled  in 
Lydia's  mind — she  was  accustomed  to  these ;  it  was 
the  never-forgotten  fact,  that  a  charming  young  man, 
who  was  her  devoted  adherent,  had  been  drawn  from 
his  allegiance  by  the  arrival  of  the  mysterious  beauty, 
Mrs.  Hesketh's  companion  ;  and  though  the  beauty 
never  vouchsafed  him  a  crumb  of  encouragement,  the 
capricious  swain  had  failed  to  return  to  Lydia's  lure ; 
Mrs.  Glyn  had  unintentionally  cost  Miss  Plassy  her 
lover. 

"  I've  made  no  promises,"  said  this  lady  to  herself, 
"  and  if  I  get  a  chance,  I  shall  pay  them  both  out — 
Mrs.  Nose-in-the-Air,  and  the  divorcee." 

Now  here  was  the  '  chance  '  looking  so  beaming  and 
pleased  with  herself,  as  she  tripped  beside  her  hostess, 
along  the  Liongasse  ;  and  with  this  girl  as  the  instru- 
ment, Miss  Plassy  felt  certain  she  could  inflict 
satisfactory  punishment  upon  her  mother.  How  she 
talked !  chattering  all  the  time,  and  bubbling  over 
with  the  joie  de  vivre. 

"  Yes,  thank  you,"  said  Cara,  as  they  seated  them- 
selves, "  a  Peche  Melba — I  adore  ices  !  "  She  removed 
her  gloves,  and  settled  her  hat  with  swift  instinctive 
touches  ;  and  presently  the  two  were  exchanging  con- 
fidences as  they  sat  vis-d-vis  across  the  marble-topped 
table,  awaiting  their  order. 

"  We  are  going  on  to  St.  Moritz  next  week,"  an- 
nounced Miss  Plassy. 


326  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  Are  you  ?    How  I  envy  you  !    We  never  go  on." 

"  No  ?    But  why  not  ?  " 

"  Because  we  are  so  poor," 

"  We  are  poor  too — church  mice  aren't  in  it  !  " 

"  But  not  hke  us  ;  we  have  not  enough  money  to 
travel,  or  to  hve  in  England." 

"  Come,  come,  my  dear  girl,"  protested  Lyddy,  sud- 
denly planting  her  elbows  on  the  table,  and  staring  into 
her  face,  "  don't  be  a  little  ostrich  !  Surely  you  know 
— ah,  here  come  our  Peche  Melbas  at  last  !  " 

"  About  what  ?  "  enquired  Cara,  plunging  in  her 
ready  spoon. 

"  About  your  mother,  my  dear." 

"  My  mother  !  What  about  her  ?  "  The  girl's  face 
was  expressive  of  profound  indifference. 

"  Can't  you  guess  ?  Well,  look  here,  promise  me 
you  won't  ever  give  me  away  ?  " 

"  All  right,"  agreed  Cara  with  a  nod.  "  I  can  keep  a 
secret — I  know  lots  !  " 

"  Tell  me,  have  you  never  wondered,  why  you  live 
out  here  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  I've  told  you  the  reason. — We  are  so  dis- 
gustingly poor." 

"  Not  really  poor  ;  your  father  is  enormously  rich, 
actually  rolling  in  money." 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  are  talking  about  !  "  pro- 
tested Cara  querulously.  "  You  are  thinking  of  other 
people — my  father  is  dead,"  and  she  took  another 
spoonful  of  ice. 

"  Well,  yes,  in  a  way.    He  is  dead  to  your  mother." 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  327 

Cara  gazed  at  the  speaker  blankly,  her  eyes  became 
round,  the  pupils  looked  like  two  small  spots. 

"  Listen  to  me,"  and  as  Miss  Plassy  leant  across  the 
table,  spoon  in  hand,  her  voice  was  emphatic,  and  her 
manner  forcible.  "  You  must  know  some  time,  and  I 
may  as  well  tell  you — they  never  will !  " 

"  Tell  me  what  ?  " 

"  Why,  about  your  father  and  mother,"  a  pause, 
followed  by  a  dramatic  whisper,  "  he  divorced  her." 

"  Miss  Plassy,  how  dare  you  !  "  Cara's  face  was 
crimson.  "  I  don't  believe  you,"  she  added  hysteri- 
cally. 

"  Oh,  very  well,  please  yourself,  my  dear,"  she 
replied  with  a  mixture  of  malice  and  gaiety.  "  The 
case  was  in  all  the  papers,  fourteen  years  ago.  People 
in  England  knew  all  about  it, — and  my  mother 
remembers  it  perfectly." 

Cara  suddenly  pushed  away  her  plate,  she  was 
trembling  violently,  her  lips  quivered.  Was  she  going 
to  cry  ? 

"  I'm  so  sorry  you  are  upset,"  continued  the  in- 
former ;  "  but  to  open  your  eyes  is  the  truest  kindness. 
I  can't  imagine  how  they  have  kept  it  from  you,  all 
these  years." 

"  Kept  what  from  me  ?  "  demanded  the  girl  in  a 
choking  voice.  "  I  can't  think  why  you  are  telling  me 
these  awful  things.    I  believe  you  are  inventing  them." 

"  Your  father's  name  is  Blagdon — so  is  yours," 
announced  Miss  Plassy  with  bland  composure.  "  Hugo 
Blagdon  of  Sharsley  Court,  a  magnificent  place  in 


328  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Yorkshire.  He  is  enormously  rich ;  they  say  he  has 
forty  thousand  a  year — pounds — not  francs  !  " 

"  Oh  !  " 

"  And  you  are  his  only  child,  and  heiress." 

Cara's  amazement  was  such,  that  she  was  unable  to 
utter  a  word,  but  her  face  worked  convulsively.  At 
last  she  stammered  : 

"  This  is  a  joke  !  " 

"  Not  at  all ;  I  only  wish  it  were  my  joke  !  When 
you  were  about  three  years  old,  your  mother  ran  away 
with  a  good-looking  officer,  I  forget  his  name  ;  he  did 
not  marry  her,  and  went  to  India.  Afterwards,  she  and 
Mrs.  Hesketh  travelled  about  together,  and  we  met 
them  at  Cannes.  Later  on,  we  saw  in  the  papers  that 
your  mother  had  kidnapped  you,  from  your  nurse, 
and  disappeared, — and  here  you  are  !  What  a  funny 
chance  coming  across  you  at  the  Paradis  !  " 

"  So  that's  the  story — and  it's  all  true  ?  " 

Cara's  eyes  glittered  with  excitement,  her  soft  pink 
cheeks,  were  paler  than  usual. 

"  True  as  gospel,"  replied  her  companion  emphatic- 
ally ;  "as  true  as  I  am  sitting  here.  If  your  father 
knew  of  your  whereabouts,  he  would  certainly  claim 
you,  and  give  you  a  ripping  time.  You  might  ask  me 
to  stay  ?  "  she  added  playfully.  "  You  would  have 
motors,  balls,  racing,  a  town  house,  a  country  house. 
I  only  wish  /  had  a  chance  of  standing  in  your  shoes  !  " 

"  I  declare  you  have  made  me  feel  quite  giddy," 
and  Cara  put  her  hand  to  her  head;  "  but  I  under- 
stand a  lot  of  things — now." 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  329 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  you  do. — You  look  pretty  wide- 
awake." 

"  I  see  why  we  have  no  Enghsh  friends,  except  Mrs. 
Hesketh — whom  I  hate,  and  who  never  ceases  asking 
bothering  questions,  and  making  nasty  speeches,  and 
teils  me,  that  I  can  never  repay  the  Mum  for  all  she 
has  done  for  me." 

"  Done  you  out  of,  she  means  !  "  briskly  corrected 
Miss  Plassy. 

"  And  I  remember  a  man  we  met  ages  ago  on  the 
Fluellen  boat ;  awfully  good-looking  ;  he  and  mother 
seemed  so  amazed  to  see  one  another.  He  was  going 
to  India,  and  they  had  such  a  talk.  After  he  left,  the 
Mum  cried  a  lot.    I  think  his  name  was  Lumley." 

"  That's  the  man  she  ran  away  with  !  "  declared 
Miss  Plassy  triumphantly. 

"  And  now  after  hearing  all  this,  I've  got  to  go  home 
to  the  Mum  and  face  her !  I  don't  see  how  I  can  ever 
forgive  her;  she  has  spoiled  my  life.  Oh,"  and  her 
voice  was  broken  with  emotion,  "  when  I  think  of  all 
I  have  missed,  since  I  was  a  kid,  it's  too,  too,  awful !  " 
and  large  tears  welled  from  Cara's  hard  blue  eyes. 

"  It  will  all  come  right  some  day,"  said  the  other 
soothingly.  "  Why,  you  are  only  seventeen,  and  not 
even  out  yet.  Your  mother  just  wanted  you  all  to 
herself,  you  see.    Do  finish  your  ice." 

Cara  felt  that  under  the  circumstances,  it  would  be 
more  dignified  to  leave  the  ice  untouched, — but  it  was 
characteristic  of  her,  that  she  gobbled  down  the  re- 
mainder of  the  Peche  Melba,  and  left  an  empty  plate. 


380  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  Of  course,  I  know  that  I  may  rely  on  you  to  keep 
what  you  have  heard  to  yourself  ?  "  continued  her 
companion, — Miss  Plassy  had  thoroughly  enjoyed  this 
interview  ; — a  most  pernicious  satisfaction  !  but  were 
the  details  to  reach  the  ear  of  Mrs.  Hesketh,  the  result 
might  prove  unpleasant,  and  a  hinted-at  reward  be 
inflexibly  withheld. 

"  Yes,  you  may  be  sure  I  shall  hold  my  tongue  and 
lie  low  for  the  present.  It  was  awfully  kind  of  you  to 
tell  me,  and  if — if — what  you  say  ever  comes  true,  you 
must  stay  with  me  and  have  a  ripping  time." 

"  All  right,  I'll  remind  you  !  "  responded  Lydia 
gaily. — (How  delightful  to  kill  two  birds  with  one 
stone,  and  receive  grateful  acknowledgments  from  two 
quarters.)  "  There's  five  o'clock  striking  now,"  she 
added,  rising  as  she  spoke  ;  "if  you  want  to  catch  the 
boat,  you  must  run  for  your  life ;  here  is  your  parasol 
— ^here  are  your  gloves — fly  !  " 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

IT  was  at  a  late  hour  for  Les  Plans,  when  Letty, 
seeing  a  light,  timidly  pushed  open  the  kitchen 
door,  and  beheld  Frau  Hurter  bending  over  the  table, 
iron  in  hand,  and  oh,  happy  opportunity,  alone !  She 
was  nervously  anxious  to  have  a  little  private  talk 
about  Cara — but  how  to  begin  ? 

"  I  wonder  if  you  would  mind  pressing  this  ?  "  she 
enquired,  exhibiting  a  strip  of  delicate  embroidery. 
"  See,  it  is  finished  at  last." 

"  Yes,"  assented  Frau  Hurter,  straightening  her- 
self, taking  it  from  her,  and  examining  it  carefully. 
"  Beautiful  work, — and  should  fetch  a  good  price." 

('  A  good  price  '  was  her  ne  plus  ultra  of  attainment.) 

"  It  is  for  a  blouse  for  Mith." 

"  Ah — true — everything  is  for  Mith." 

"I'm  afraid  she  is  out  of  favour  with  you  ? " 
ventured  her  mother  timidly. 

"  Ach  ye  !  She  is  indeed  changed.  It  is  another 
Mith,  Mein  Frau.  I  have  eyes  and  ears,  and  I  hear 
tales — half  of  them  I  do  not  believe — for  I  still  love  the 
kindli — I  cannot  help  myself." 

"  What  have  you  heard  ?  I  implore  you  to  tell  me. 
Who  has  been  talking  ?  " 

"  Ehzabeth  Baer  for  one.    I  met  her  a  few  days  ago 

331 


332  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

at  market,  and  she  came  over  and  spoke,  and  said  that 
Mitli  is  a  Wustus  Madel,  and  had  a  bad  influence  on 
her  girl  Berthe — she  had  forbidden  her  the  house  !  " 

"  No  !  "  ejaculated  Letty  in  a  tone  of  angry  astonish- 
ment.   "  Impossible  !  " 

"  Yes  ;  Mitli  puts  ideas  into  Berthe's  head,  ideas 
about  money,  dress,  and  young  men,  and  she  makes 
the  girl  her  tool,  and  has,  Jesus  Maria !  corrupted  her 
mind." 

"  My  child  corrupt  anyone  !  How  dared  she  say 
such  things !  " 

"  At  least  she  makes  trouble, — and  now  she  no 
longer  is  received — no,  not  these  two  months." 

"  Oh,  surely  you  must  be  mistaken,"  but  the  re- 
monstrance was  half-hearted  ;  "  she  was  there  last 
week." 

"  No  doubt  Mitli  pretends  she  still  goes  to  Les  Lilacs 
— it  has  its  conveniences." 

"  But  if  not  at  the  Baers, — where  is  she  ?  " 

"  x\h,"  putting  down  the  iron,  and  lifting  her  hard 
brown  hands,  "it  is  not  for  me  to  say  ;  but  this  I 
know ;  she  deceives  us.  Many  an  hour  when  the  girl  is 
supposed  to  be  at  classes,  or  with  her  school  mates, 
Mitli  is  elsewhere.  She  has  been  given  too  much  love, 
and  liberty,  and  too  much  trust." 

And  with  this  pronouncement,  Frau  Hurter  turned 
to  the  stove  to  fetch  another  iron. 

Cara's  mother  ascended  to  her  room,  filled  with 
anxiety  and  far-reaching  fears.  As  she  stood  at  the 
open  window,  looking  out  on  the  lake  and  the  stars, 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  333 

inhaling  air  honey  sweet,  with  the  breath  of  flowers, — 
a  singular  desolation,  a  sense  of  homelessness,  and 
loneliness,  came  upon  her.  Something  had  overtaken 
her,  from  which  there  was  no  escape  ;  something  had 
died  in  her  heart — the  belief  in  Cara's  truth,  and  inno- 
cence. She  opened  the  communicating  door  very 
gentl3^  and  peeped  into  the  next  room.  Cara  was  asleep, 
with  a  candle  guttering  beside  the  bed.  An  open  book 
lay  on  the  floor.  Letty  picked  it  up  and  glanced  at  the 
title.  Bel  Ami,  Guy  de  Maupassant.  Then  she  blew 
out  the  light,  returned  to  her  own  room,  undressed, 
and  went  to  bed,  where  she  lay  awake  for  hours ; 
blaming  herself  for  blunders  and  failures,  making  good 
resolutions,  now  and  then  bursting  into  stifled  sobs,  till 
the  sparrows  in  the  pear  tree  began  to  twitter,  and  an 
exquisite  new  day  came  stealing  down  the  mountains. 
Now  that  she  had  an  assured  income  of  two  hundred 
a  year,  Letty  had  ceased  to  work  incessantly  for  daily 
bread,  and  had  spare  time,  to  spend  with  her  girl,  to 
share  her  walks,  and  excursions,  and  amusements  ;  but 
her  proffered  companionship  appeared  to  be  unwel- 
come. When  she  suggested  a  row  on  the  lake,  a  tea 
picnic,  a  steamer  trip,  she  was  generally  assured  that 
such  outings  were  impossible,  Cara's  engagements  were 
so  numerous  ;  she  was  playing  tennis  with  the  Maas 
girls,  or  spending  the  day  at  Engelberg  with  her 
drawing-mistress,  or  going  to  the  swimming  baths  with 
their  friends  of  the  Weggisgasse,  and  much-sought-for 
Mitli  seemed  to  have  no  desire  and  no  leisure,  for  the 
society  of  her  mother. 


334  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

During  the  last  fortnight,  a  sudden  and  strange 
change  had  come  over  the  girl ;  looking  back,  Letty 
dated  it  from  the  day  of  the  fete,  or  a  little  later.  She 
had  become  silent,  moody,  and  almost  morose — as  if 
she  cherished  a  mortal  grievance  and  was  offended 
with  everyone ;  and  sometimes  when  she  looked  up 
her  mother  found  Cara's  eyes  fixed  upon  her  with  a 
sullen,  almost  hostile  expression.  What  did  it  mean  ? 
Cara  no  longer  cared  to  visit  the  Paradis,  to  tea  or 
dejeuner — once  hailed  as  a  welcome  treat.  She  shut 
herself  up  in  her  room,  writing  letters,  and  every 
morning  walked  down  to  Mitzau  to  the  post  office, — 
instead  of  awaiting  the  leisurely  arrival  of  the  facteur. 

She  was  restless,  irritable,  strange  ;  undoubtedly 
her  condition  had  something  to  do  with  her  correspon- 
dence, and  her  mother,  acting  upon  her  newly  formed 
resolutions,  made  bold  enquiries. 

One  afternoon  as  they  were  walking  down  the  hill 
together,  she  screwed  up  her  courage  and  said  : 

"Who  is  it  you  are  writing  to  so  constantly,  Cara? " 

"  No  one  in  particular,"  answered  the  girl,  with  a 
toss  of  her  head. 

"  But  what  a  waste  of  time  and  energy  !  "  Again 
she  braced  herself,  determined  to  exercise  an  authority 
too  long  relaxed. 

"  I  think,  dear,  that  I  ought  to  know  who  is  j^our 
correspondent." 

"  Why,  Mum,"  and  Cara  came  to  a  standstill,  "  this 
is  something  quite  new  !  You've  never  asked  such  a 
thing  before." 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  335 

"  Bill  I  believe  I  should  have  done  so,  Cara.  Better 
late  than  never.  I'm  afraid,  dear  child,  that  I  have 
been  hitherto  too  slack,  too  busy  with  my  work,  to 
take  a  proper  interest  in  your  affairs." 

"  This  is  too  funny  !  "  cried  Cara  angrily  ;  "  that  old 
Hesketh  spy,  has  put  3^ou  up  to  this." 

"  No — and  that  is  no  way  to  speak  of  her,"  reproved 
Letty  with  surprising  spirit  ;  "  and  now  I  must  insist 
on  knowing  who  it  is,  that  you  have  been  writing  to 
to-day  ?  " 

"  Oh,  then,  since  you  insist,"  said  Cara,  putting  her 
hand  in  the  pocket  of  her  coat,  "  here  is  my  correspon- 
dence," and  she  exhibited  a  letter  addressed  to,  '  Peter 
Robinson,  Regent  Street,  London,  W.' 

"  A  man  certainly,  but  a  stranger  to  me." 

(There  was  another  letter  remaining  in  her  pocket, 
and  this  was  inscribed  to,  '  Hugo  Blagdon,  Esq., 
Sharsley  Court,  Yorks.') 

Letty,  as  she  received  Peter  Robinson's  letter,  felt 
a  little  abashed.  Could  all  the  other  suspicions  have 
the  same  ending  ?  Oh,  could  they  ? — if  so  what  a 
heavy  load  would  be  lifted  from  her  mind  ! 

"  Yes,  I  see,"  she  assented,  "  you  are  sending  for 
patterns  ;  but  surely  you  are  not  continually  writing 
to  shops  ?  " 

"  Why  not  ?  You  know  best,  why  I  have  no  English 
correspondence.  The  July  sales  are  on,  and  one  gets 
things  for  half  of  nothing,  trimmings,  stockings,  gloves, 
scarves.    Tomlin  gave  me  the  tip." 

"  Oh,   did   she  ?  "   murmured   Letty,   not   a   little 


336  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

daunted  by  Cara's  manner ;  then  she  resumed  with  an 
effort,  "  Cara,  my  dear,  why  will  you  not  be  more 
open  with  me,  and  confide  in  me,  and  tell  me  things  ? 
No  one  in  the  world,  takes  as  much  interest  in  you,  or 
is  as  anxious  for  your  happiness,  as  /  am." 

The  girl  glanced  slyly  at  the  pretty,  incredibly  young- 
looking  woman  who  was  her  mother  ;  with  her  clear 
complexion,  abundant  hair,  and  slim  figure,  she  might 
almost  be  a  contemporary  of  her  own  ! 

"  What  sort  of  things  ?  " 

"  Just  the  sort  of  things  you  tell  j^our  girl  friends." 

Cara  broke  out  into  an  irrepressible  shout  of  laughter, 
— laughter,  in  which  there  sounded  a  note  of  mockery  or 
derision, — and  Letty,  with  a  heightened  colour,  added  : 

"  Fran  Hurter  has  informed  me,  that  you  no  longer 
go  to  the  Baers — is  this  the  case  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I've  had  a  terrific  row  with  Berthe  and  her 
mother — horrible,  bourgeois  brutes  !  " 

"  But  you  used  to  be  so  fond  of  Berthe — you've 
known  one  another  nearly  all  your  lives." 

"  I  never  knew  her,  or  found  her  out,  until  lately. 
I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  another  time.  Here  is  the 
Paradis.  I'm  not  going  in.  Give  my  hate  to  Mrs. 
Hesketh.  Oh,  well,  darling  Mum,  don't  look  so 
shocked,"  patting  her  lightly  on  the  arm ;  "  you  know, 
I  never  mean  the  quarter  of  what  I  say,  and  you  also 
know,  that  she  can't  endure  the  sight  of  me  !  "  Then 
Miss  Glyn  embraced  her  mother,  and  turned  quickly 
about  to  walk  to  Mitzau,  and  post  her  letter. 

Mrs.  Hesketh,  who  was  awaiting  her  friend  in  the 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  837 

lounge,  looked  unusually  solemn  as  she  asked,  "  \Vhat 
have  you  done  with  the  girl  ?  " 

"  She  has  gone  to  the  post.  I  think,  dear  Cousin 
Maude,  she  has  a  sort  of  instinct  that  you  don't  care 
for  her," 

"  Let  us  have  tea  at  once,"  said  her  friend,  brusquely 
ignoring  the  question  ;  "  afterwards,  we  will  go  up  to 
my  room  and  hold  a  meeting." 

As  the  tea  proceeded,  Letty  was  conscious  that  there 
was  thunder  in  the  atmosphere  ;  the  symptoms  were 
as  clear  as  when  a  storm  was  collecting  in  the  neigh- 
bouring mountains,  and  rugged  old  Pilatus  arrayed 
himself  as  a  preliminary,  in  a  series  of  scarf-like  clouds. 
Although  Mrs,  Hesketh  talked  spasmodically  of  home 
news,  and  exchanged  civil  greetings  with  acquaint- 
ances, her  manner  was  abstracted.  Undoubtedly  some 
subject  lay  heavily  on  her  mind,  and  Letty  hurried  over 
her  tea,  declining  a  second  cup,  and  said  : 

"  Do  let  us  go  upstairs,  I  cannot  bear  suspense — 
anything  is  better  than  that." 

"  So,  then,  you  guess  ?  "  said  her  friend,  leading  the 
way  to  the  sitting-room,  and  drawing  forward  two 
chairs  on  her  balcony, 

"  I  cannot  guess  what  you  may  have  to  say, — only 
that  I'm  sure  it  is  something  to  do  with  the  child," 

"  It  has.  Hitherto,  excepting  that  night  at  the  fete 
— and  we  might  have  been  mistaken — we  have  had 
nothing  to  support  suspicion,  beyond  Frau  Hurter's 
natural  animosity  towards  a  girl  who  has  bewitched 
her  son." 


338  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  Yes,"  agreed  Letty  breathlessly. 

"  And  now,  I  have  got  hold  of  facts." 

"  How  ?     Facts  !  " 

"  By  the  means  of  unintentional  eavesdropping  in 
this  very  verandah." 

"  Eavesdropping  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you  know  how  sounds  ascend.  I  was 
sitting  up  here  last  night  alone,  enjoying  the 
glorious  view,  and  moonlight — vaguely  aware  that 
some  men  were  talking  and  smoking  just  below, 
and  one  of  them  who  had  a  loud,  resonant  voice, 
was  describing  someone  who  was  splendid  sport. 
When  he  said  '  a  flapper  of  seventeen,'  I  pricked 
up  my  ears  at  once. 

"  '  Knows  her  way  about,'  he  went  on,  '  uncom- 
monly handsome — and  up  to  all  sorts  of  games.' 

"  Letty,  I  leant  nearer,  and  listened  shamelessly, 
and  another  voice  asked  : 

"  *  Where  does  she  hang  out  ?  ' 

"  '  At  a  farm  up  the  hill  here,  a  place  called  Les 
Plans.' 

"  '  Oh,'  said  the  other,  '  a  native  ?  ' 

"  '  No — English — and  by  way  of  being  a  lady.  She 
has  lived  here  with  her  mother  since  she  was  a  kid  ; 
the  mother  is  a  damned  pretty  woman ' 

"  I  am  repeating  what  I  heard  verbatim — 

"  '  — but  a  fool.  She  lets  the  girl  go  marauding  all 
over  the  place  alone.  Ahem  1  Well,  not  exactly  alone 
— because  she  trusts  her  absolutely  !  ' 

"  M   this  they  all  roared."     Here   Mrs.   Hesketh 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  339 

paused.  Letty  was  now  sobbing  audibly,  her  face 
buried  in  her  hands. 

"  Then  a  man  asked,  '  How  did  you  find  her  ?  '  " 
pursued  Mrs.  Hesketh. 

"  '  Angus  McKenzie  gave  me  the  tip  ;  he  was  here 
last  year — met  her  on  the  boat,  and  they  got  tremen- 
dously chummy.  He  used  to  take  her  about,  and  give 
her  treats,  when  she  was  supposed  to  be  having  lessons 
in  Lucerne — ha  !  ha  !  But,  mind  you,  she  knows  how 
to  take  rattling  good  care  of  herself.  She  was  capital 
company,  with  a  lot  of  "go,"  and  wonderfully 
advanced  ideas  for  her  age — especially  with  regard 
to  spending  money  !  '  " 

Here  Mrs.  Hesketh  paused,  and  looked  at  her  com- 
panion, who  was  still  sobbing  hysterically. 

"  Letty,  are  you  listening  to  me  ?  Do  please  pull 
yourself  together  !  " 

"  I  am,  of  course,  listening,"  she  gasped.  "  I  am — 
oh,  it  is  all  my  fault.  Oh,  Cousin  Maude,  do  not  blame 
the  child  !  I've  been  a  bad  mother  after  all !  I 
allowed  her  to  slip  out  of  my  hands,  and  gave  her  her 
own  way,  and  was  too,  too  indulgent  ;  but  I  myself 
was  so  strictly  brought  up,  and  had  so  little  love,  and 
sympathy,  and  freedom,  I  was  resolved  that  Cara 
should  never  suffer  in  the  same  way." 

"  Letty,  be  quiet  !  "  interposed  her  friend  angrily. 
"  I  won't  sit  here,  and  listen  to  you  abusing  yourself. 
You  have  been  too  self-sacrificing,  and,  I'm  afraid, 
weak.  But  how  could  you  oppose  your  will  to  Cara's  ? 
Hers  is  of  iron, — and  you  know  your  own  failing.  You 


340  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

sent  her  to  excellent  schools,  you  believed  she  had 
good  companions  ;  you  could  not  conduct  her  to  and 
from  school,  or  be  always  with  her  like  a  keeper — 
you  had  to  work  hard,  to  maintain  yourself  and  her, 
and,  when  possible,  you  shared  her  pleasures  and 
made  yourself  her  companion — you  could  have  done 
no  more." 

"  And  I  could  not  well  do  less,"  said  Letty  as  she 
dried  her  eyes.    "  Was  that  all  the  men  said  ?  " 

"  No.  It  seems  that  Cara  used  to  climb  out  of  her 
bedroom  window,  and  descend  by  the  pear-tree  into 
the  garden,  and  sit  in  the  summer-house,  smoking 
cigarettes  with  visitors  from  the  Paradis ;  and  for  this 
reason,  the  old  watch-dog  was  put  out  of  the  way." 

"  Oh,  poor,  poor  Karo  !  I  was  sure  he  had  been 
poisoned  !  " 

"  And  it  appears,  that  when  you  supposed  Cara  to 
be  spending  the  day  with  Berthe,  she  was  really  lunch- 
ing and  carousing  with  one  or  other  of  these  festive 
strangers  !  This  accounts,  for  her  craze  for  pretty 
restaurant  frocks,  smart  beflowered  hats,  and  all  the 
reckless  bills.  I  gathered  that  she  did  not  accept 
presents,  beyond  chocolates,  flowers,  entertainments, 
and  motor  rides.  Sometimes  she  motored  home  after 
the  last  boat  had  gone,  and  had  what  they  called  un- 
commonly narrow  shaves  of  being  spotted  !  Now, 
Letty,  you  positively  must  assume  another  attitude,  and 
be  firm,  and  absolute.  There  would  be  no  use  in  my 
talking  to  Cara — she  abhors  me.  We  will  arrange  to  go 
to  England  as  soon  as  possible,  and  place  the  young 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  841 

woman  in  a  school ;  this  will  no  doubt  have  a  sobering 
effect  and  be  a  change  that  will  do  her  good.  I  know 
of  a  capital  finishing  establishment  in  Brighton,  and 
with  your  leave  or  without,  I'll  write  to-morrow." 

"  Yes,  as  you  Hke  ;  but  I  feel  bewildered,  dazed " 

"  You  had  better  have  an  interview  with  Cara  to- 
night, and  tell  her  you  know  all,  and  that  in  future  you 
wiU  never  trust  her  out  of  your  sight.  She  shall  not 
stir  without  you,  or  me,  or  Tomlin  at  her  heels,  and  in 
ten  days  we  start  for  England.  Settle  up  with  Frau 
Hurter,  and  leave  all  other  arrangements  to  me.  My 
poor  Letty,  I  am  sorry  for  you,  but  I  will  stand  by 
you  shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  see  you  through  this 
crisis." 

"  But  it's  so  easy  for  us  to  wonder,  and  blame,  and 
plan.  When  Cara  comes  on  the  scene,  somehow  I  am 
always  put  in  the  wrong  and  defeated." 

"  You  cannot  possibly  be  defeated  on  this  occasion," 
declared  her  friend,  with  confidence.  "  All  the  right 
and  might  is  on  your  side  :  the  right  of  a  good  and 
too  unselfish  mother,  and  the  might  of  the  purse. 
Cara  has  no  money." 

"Cara,"  said  her  mother,  coming  into  her  room 
that  evening,  "  I  wish  to  speak  to  you  very 
seriously." 

Cara,  who  was  in  her  petticoats,  and  in  the  act  of 
unpinning  her  abundant  hair,  turned  about  sharply 
and  said  : 

"  Oh,  yes,  let's  have  it  out,  then  1    I've  felt  there 


342  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

was  something  in  the  air.  What  has  Frau  Hurter  been 
teUing  you  now  ?  She  went  for  me  this  morning  hke 
any  old  fish-fag,  and  said  I  had  ruined  Fritz,  and 
broken  his  heart,  and  he  was  no  good  for  anything  !  " 
And  she  tossed  back  a  mane  of  hair,  and  glared  a 
challenge. 

"It  is  not  Fritz,  Cara.  It  is  about  the  strangers — 
the  Englishmen,  whom  you  meet  clandestinely  and  go 
about  with,  motoring  and  amusing  yourself,  when  all 
the  time  I've  been  trusting  you,  and  thinking  you  were 
taking  lessons  in  Lucerne." 

"  Oh  !  "  dropping  her  arms,  "so  it  has  leaked  out 
at  last  !  Well,  it  had  to  some  day.  I've  had  a  ripping 
time,  and  I'm  not  sorry."  And  this  handsome  young 
woman,  with  her  bare  arms  and  neck,  and  flowing 
hair,  faced  her  accuser  unabashed,  and  unrepentant, 
assuring  herself,  she  had  no  reason  to  be  afraid ;  she 
was  always  able  to  cow,  and  browbeat  the  Mum. 

"  Oh,  Cara,  Cara  !  How  could  you  ?  "  murmured 
her  parent,  with  uplifted  hands. 

"  Well,  I  believe  most  people  know  I've  friends — 
men  friends.  Fritz  was  crazy,  when  he  saw  me  speak- 
ing to  Captain  Seymour  ;  but  think  of  the  awful, 
awful  life  I  lead  here,  and  other  English  girls  have 
such  good  times  !  I've  done  no  harm  whatever — I've 
only  amused  myself.    And  why  not  ?  " 

"  Getting  out  of  your  bedroom  window  at  night, 
and  sitting  in  the  garden  with  strange  men  from  the 
Paradis  1  " 

"  Now,  who  can  have  told  you  that  ?  "  she  asked 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  343 

sharply.    *'  Jost  ?  though  for  ten  francs  he  swore  he'd 
hold  his  tongue ;  treacherous  old  devil  I  " 

"  Never  mind  who  told — I  know  everything." 

"  Do  you,  Mum  ?  I  doubt  it.  I've  had  lots  of 
affairs  since  I  was  fifteen,"  and  she  eyed  her  mother 
with  amusement.  "  Yes,  it's  in  my  blood.  You  asked 
me  to  tell  you  things — and  I  will." 

Now  that  the  ice  was  broken,  Cara  felt  tempted  to 
shock  her  mother  ;  she  would  enjoy  the  sensation. 

"  Since  you  were  fifteen  ?  "  repeated  Letty  in  an 
incredulous  whisper. 

Cara  nodded,  with  smiling  complacence. 

"  Yes,  first,  there  was  the  violinist,  an  Italian,  who 
said  he  was  a  Count.  He  gave  me  chocolates  and 
flowers, — till  I  spotted  him  in  the  orchestra ;  but  even 
then  I  was  gone  on  Pablo.  After  Pablo,  the  nice  German 
boy  from  Heidelberg  ;  he  wrote  me  verses,  and  gave 
me  a  ring.  There  was  also  Anton  Baer,  who  took  me 
up  Pilatus  when  you  thought  I  was  in  bed  at  the 
Baers,  with  a  sprained  ankle  ;  and  Major  McKenzie, 
who  spoke  to  me  on  the  boat  ;  and  Captain  Seymour 
— and  always,  always  Fritz." 

As  Letty  stood  pale  and  rigid,  as  if  turned  to  stone, 
Cara  concluded  : 

"  After  all,  I've  done  no  harm  ;  one  is  young  but 
once !  " 

"  No  harm,  Cara  ?  I  think  you  have  broken  my 
heart  !  A  girl  of  seventeen  making  herself  notorious. 
Do  you  know  that  you  are  the  laughing-stock  of 
men   at   the   Paradis ;    who    discuss   you,    and   hold 


344  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

you  very  cheap  ? — no  harm  in  losing  your  good 
name  !  " 

"  As  to  broken  hearts,"  retorted  Car  a,  who  was  now 
plaiting  her  hair  vigorously,  "  I  don't  believe  in  them ; 
and  I've  heard  enough  of  that  rubbish  from  Fritz  to 
last  a  lifetime."  The  term  '  laughing-stock '  had 
stirred  her  keenly,  and  she  went  on,  her  temper  at 
white  heat  :  "As  for  my  good  name,  I  can  take  care 
of  that ;  and,  my  darling  Mum,"  and  she  drew  her- 
self up,  and  tossed  back  a  plait,  "  you  are  the  last 
person  to  talk  of  '  a  good  name.'  " 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Cara  ?  "  Letty  asked  faintly. 

"  I  mean,"  speaking  with  deliberate  emphasis,  "  that 
I  know." 

Her  mother  took  two  steps  backwards,  staggered 
blindly,  and  sat  down  on  the  side  of  the  bed, — her 
face  as  colourless  as  the  counterpane. 

"  Yes,  I  must  say,  I  think  you  should  not  have  kept 
it  from  me,  Mum.  Of  course,  I  don't  think  any  the 
worse  of  you,  dear."  She  would  have  taken  her 
mother's  hand,  but  Letty  pushed  her  from  her,  with 
impatience,  and  her  trembhng  lips  put  the  question : 

"  Who  told  you  ?  " 

"  Miss  Plassy — she  said  I  ought  to  know." 

"  Yes,  go  on,"  urged  her  mother  in  a  stifled  voice  ; 
"  be  quick  and  tell  me." 

"  She  told  me  that  my  name  is  Blagdon.  My  father 
is  enormously  rich,  and  that  you  ran  away  with  an 
officer  when  I  was  a  kid,  and  were  divorced,  and  a  year 
later,  you  came  and  stole  me  from   my  nurse,  and 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  845 

brought  me  off  here.  That's  the  story ! — it  sounds 
crude,  but  she  swore  it  was  true  and  in  all  the  papers. 
I  can  get  over  the  divorce  all  right,"  continued  Cara, 
with  an  air  of  superb  generosity,  "  but  really  and 
truly.  Mum,  I  cannot  forgive  you  for  kidnapping  me, 
and  bringing  me  off  abroad,  to  lead  this  wretched, 
poverty-stricken  life." 

"  Cara,"  cried  her  mother,  rising  to  her  feet,  and 
speaking  with  unexpected  violence,  "  you  have  heard 
a  garbled  tale — only  one  side.  Now  you  shall  hear 
mine,"  and  standing  erect,  confronting  her  daughter, 
she  poured  forth  the  story  of  her  wrongs,  her  misery, 
and  her  married  life. 

Her  eloquence — the  eloquence  of  a  bursting  heart — 
was  such,  that  even  Cara  for  a  moment  felt  moved, 
ashamed,  yes,  and  repentant.  So  overwhelming  was 
the  effect  of  her  mother's  picture  of  a  blighted  youth,  a 
life  of  solitude,  and  her  passionate  attachment  to  her- 
self, that  Cara  for  once  betrayed  into  real  personal 
feeling,  fell  into  her  mother's  arms,  overcome  by  a 
storm  of  unparalleled  emotion. 

At  last,  with  sobs  and  caresses  from  Letty,  murmurs 
of  penitence  and  adoration  from  Cara,  mother  and 
daughter,  exhausted  by  this  violent  strain,  separated 
at  last,  to  seek  what  rest  they  might. 

For  hours  Cara  lay  watching  the  window  with  hard 
restless  eyes,  turning  over  her  mother's  story  in  her 
mind,  and  weighing  it  remorselessly.  As  time  passed, 
her  feelings  had  subsided ;  it  was  one  thing  to  be 
touched  by  a  beautiful  face,  an  impassioned  pleading, 


346  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

and  unfortunate  history ;  it  was  another,  in  the  dim, 
pale  dawn,  to  recall  facts — remorseless  facts.  The  fact  of 
the  divorce — the  fact  that  her  mother  had  stolen  her — 
the  fact  that  she  was  an  heiress — the  fact  that  she, 
Cara,  with  all  her  beauty,  good  birth,  and  cravings,  was 
poor  and  insignificant,  and  living  on  a  few  francs  a 
week  at  a  detestable  old  Swiss  farm.  Of  course,  she 
was  fond  of  the  Mum ;  certainly  she  was  fond  of  her ; 
and  she  had  had  a  horrid  life, — but  probably  she  had 
not  known  how  to  manage  people.  Probably  ? — why, 
of  course  not — she  never  could  manage  anyone  !  She, 
Cara,  had  her  own  hfe  to  lead,  and  must  strike  out  for 
herself.  Meanwhile  she  resolved  to  be  very  kind  and 
good  to  the  Mum, — and  to  keep  no  more  trysts.  What 
brutes  of  men  to  talk  !  For  the  future,  she  resolved  to 
remain  under  her  mother's  wing  ;  it  would  be  too 
ridiculous  for  a  great  heiress  to  make  herself  cheap ! 

Letty  as  she  lay  also  watching  her  window,  never 
slept  at  all ;  her  thoughts  were  too  active.  She  recalled 
Cara's  manner,  her  callous  admissions,  her  bombshell, 
and  subsequently  her  surprising  breakdown.  This,  she 
knew  from  experience,  to  be  but  a  temporary  affair — 
there  had  been  former  scenes  and  reconciliations,  from 
which  Cara  had,  as  on  the  present  occasion,  emerged 
victorious  ! 


CHAPTER    XXXIII 

"  O  O  she  has  known  for  a  whole  fortnight  and  kept 

O  it  to  herself,"  said  Mrs.  Hesketh  with  luminous 
eyes.  "  I  had  no  idea  that  Cara  was  capable  of  such 
amazing  self-control.  This  accounts  for  her  inexplic- 
able silence,  sullenness,  and  studied  insolence  to  me." 

"  Of  course,  the  information  was  startling,"  pleaded 
Letty.  "  Her  whole  httle  world  turned  upside  down  ; 
the  child  has  taken  the  news  amazingly  well,  and  is  so 
sweet  and  affectionate.  This  morning  she  asked  me 
to  tell  you  that  she  is  very  sorry  and  ashamed  of  her 
rudeness  to  you,  and  intends  to  turn  over  a  new  leaf." 

"  I  am  not  sure  that  I  have  much  faith  in  these 
new  leaves,"  rejoined  Mrs.  Hesketh  ungraciously ; 
"  but  I  am  prepared  to  accept  the  olive  branch.  You 
say  the  girl  is  sitting  at  home  sewing,  whilst  you  are 
abroad  ?    You  appear  to  have  changed  places." 

"  Only  for  once.  It  was  so  important  that  I  should 
see  you.  Now  Cara  has  been  enlightened,  perhaps  it 
is  for  the  best — it  had  to  come  some  day." 

"  And  malicious  Miss  Plassy  has  spared  no  details — 
you  have  no  further  disclosures  to  fear.  Bring  Cara  to 
dinner  to-night,  I  should  hke  to  have  a  talk  with  her, 
and  we  wiU  smoke  the  pipe  of  peace." 

For  the  next  ten  days  all  went  smoothly.    Cara  no 

347 


348  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

longer  yearned  for  solitary  excursions  into  Lucerne ;  on 
the  contrary,  she  appeared  to  be  glad  of  her  mother's 
companionship,  and  had  figuratively  attached  herself 
to  her  apron  string  ! 

Meanwhile,  arrangements  for  a  move  were  in  pro- 
gress. Mrs.  Hesketh  had  written  home,  announcing 
the  arrival  of  two  friends,  ordering  alterations  in  the 
house,  and  entering  into  treaty  for  a  new  motor. 

A  whole  month  had  passed,  and  there  had  been  no 
reply  to  Cara's  filial  appeal — an  appeal  which  had  cost 
hours  of  thought,  and  been  written  and  rewritten  again 
and  again.  Her  heart  and  her  hopes  sank  ;  this  con- 
dition was  salutary,  the  girl — like  all  bullies — was 
absurdly  elated  by  success,  whilst  failure  bowed  her  to 
the  earth.  In  despair  of  her  father's  favour  and  rescue, 
she  now  turned  to  her  mother,  whom  she  contemplated 
by  the  light  of  her  illuminating  story.  She  dwelt  on 
that  passionately  pleading  figure,  that  ringing  voice, 
those  piteous  eyes,  and  appealing  hands ;  and  could  not 
but  believe  that  every  word  she  uttered  was  true.  Her 
father's  silence  was  ample  proof  of  his  unnatural 
character  ;  he  must  be  a  brute  !  And  she  herself  had 
witnessed  one  of  the  principal  scenes  in  her  mother's 
history.  That  afternoon  on  the  Schiller,  when  they 
had  met  the  handsome  English  officer,  who  implored 
her  mother  to  agree  to  something,  and  her  mother  had 
not  consented  ;  now  she  learnt  that  he  had  asked  her 
to  marry  him,  and  leave  her,  Cara,  at  school — and  the 
Mum  had  refused.  She  recalled  his  urgent  air,  and  her 
mother's  tears.   It  was  evident  that  she  cared  for  him — 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  849 

and  no  wonder  !  Had  she  been  in  her  mother's  place, 
his  offer  would  have  been  accepted — Men  sur!  And  the 
Mum  was  so  pretty — no  matter  how  shabby  or  simple 
her  clothes,  she  always  looked  well  born — a  lady  to 
the  tips  of  her  fingers.  Everything  she  accomplished 
was  so  neat,  so  finished:  her  room  and  belongings  so 
orderly ;  such  a  contrast  to  her  own  apartment, 
which  was  always  untidy ;  she  never  could  find 
anything,  and  flung  away  hats,  stepped  out  of  skirts, 
kicked  off  shoes,  and  left  the  Mum  to  clear  up,  and  put 
her  things  straight.  She  seemed  at  last  to  realise,  what 
her  mother  stood  for  in  her  hfe,  and  became  thought- 
ful, helpful,  and  affectionate.  She  ran  errands,  carried 
parcels,  and  was  altogether  another  and  softer  Cara. 
These  were  indeed  halcyon  days  for  Letty  1  She  brought 
her  good  news  to  the  bedside  of  her  friend,  who  was 
confined  to  her  room  with  a  serious  bronchial  attack. 

"  The  child  is  so  changed,"  she  said,  "  so  warm- 
hearted, loving,  and  confidential.  She  has  confessed 
everything  to  me  ;  all  about  those  odious  men,  and  how 
they  taught  her  to  smoke,  and  supplied  her  with 
cigarettes  and  chocolates,  and  took  her  trips  in  motor- 
boats.  She  declares  she  only  went  with  them  for  the 
fun  of  the  thing,  the  thrilling  excitement  of  adventure, 
and  possible  discovery !  She  will  never  deceive  me 
again  as  long  as  she  lives — we  are  to  have  no  secrets 
from  one  another." 

Here  Mrs.  Hesketh  murmured  something  inarticulate 
into  the  down  quilt,  and  her  visitor  continued  : 

"  And  she  is  so  interested  in  Sharsley,  and  asks  me 


350  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

to  tell  her  all  about  the  place,  and  about  Thornby  and 
Oldcourt.  Oh,  Cousin  Maude,"  and  she  sank  on  her 
knees  by  the  bed,  and  took  her  hand  in  hers,  "  I  am  so 
happy  at  last  !  I  am  well  repaid  for  my  strivings. 
Cara  and  I  are  now  all  in  all  to  one  another," 

During  this  interview,  Cara  had  been  waiting  for  her 
mother  in  the  lounge — she  was  now  full  of  these  touch- 
ing httle  attentions.  As  she  waited  one  of  her  English 
acquaintances  happened  to  enter,  paused,  and  bowed 
with  ironical  ceremony.  Then  he  approached,  and 
said  in  a  jocular  key  : 

"  Hullo,  Goldylocks !  what  are  you  doing  here  ? 
Why  so  proud  ?  " 

Goldylocks  raised  her  eyes,  stared  at  him  fiercely, 
and  resumed  her  study  of  a  picture  paper;  and  after  a 
momentary  hesitation,  Captain  Seymour  felt  compelled 
to  pass  on.  Cara  had  done  with  these  odious  free-and- 
easy  men,  who  joked  with  her,  flattered  her,  and 
then  talked  her  over,  and  laughed  at  her  behind  her 
back.  That  thought  acted  as  a  lash,  and  kept  Miss 
Blagdon's  exuberant  impulses  in  check. 

Presently  her  mother  reappeared,  and  as  they 
climbed  the  hill  together,  arm  in  arm,  she  said  : 

"  Cousin  Maude  is  so  much  better,  the  doctor  thinks 
she  may  move  in  ten  days,  and  we  will  travel  with  her. 
You  know  the  school  idea  has  been  abandoned,  and 
you  can  easily  keep  up  your  music,  and  French  with 
me.  I  do  hope  you  won't  find  Thornby  too  dull ; 
there  is  no  one  in  the  village  now,  except  the  Dentons." 

"  And  your  aunt — the  hunting  lady  ?  " 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  351 

"  No ;  she  lives  in  Brighton,  I  am  thankful  to 
say,  but  the  poor  old  Holt  is  closed.  Cara,"  and  her 
mother  halted  on  the  little  plateau,  "  Mrs.  Hesketh  has 
been  frightening  me.  She  asks,  if  your  father  claimed 
you,  what  would  you  do  ?  " 

"  Why  yoti  know,  Mummy,"  throwing  her  arm 
round  her  waist,  "  I'll  never,  never  leave  you  !  "  and 
she  covered  her  face  with  kisses. 

"  If  you  had  been  a  boy,  darling,  of  course  I'd  never, 
never  have  dared  to  carry  you  off ;  but  I  wanted  you 
so  badly,  and  he  did  not  ;  you  were  left  alone  with 
your  nurse  in  a  corner  of  that  great  big  house,  your 
father  ignored  you  ;  he  dislikes  girls — even  grown- 
up girls." 

"  Yet  he  married  a  girl,  Mummy.  Why  you  were 
only  my  age — seventeen  I  " 

"  Yes,  dear,  but  your  father  soon  got  tired  of  me. 
At  seventeen,  I  was  years  younger  than  you  are  ;  I 
was  painfully  timid,  silly,  and  undecided — and " 

"  You  are  undecided  still;  but  there  is  no  one  in 
all  the  whole  world,  as  clever  and  good,  as  my  own 
beautiful  Mum,"  and  Cara  bent  her  fair  head,  and 
kissed  her  mother  on  the  lips. 


Hugo  Blagdon  was  now  a  stout,  irascible,  red-faced 
man  of  fifty-seven,  who  for  the  sake  of  his  health  was 
every  year  compelled  to  take  '  a  cure  '  at  Carlsbad, 
and  here  Cara's  letters  followed,  and  found  him.  As 
he   casually   opened   number   one,    then   glanced    at 


352  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

the  signature,  his  complexion  changed  from  red  to 
purple. 

"  What  the  devil  does  this  mean  ?  "  he  muttered. 

He  was  soon  in  possession  of  full  information.  In 
Cara's  fine  bold  hand,  she  assured  him  that  only  within 
the  last  twenty-four  hours  she  had  learnt  her  own  and 
her  mother's  story,  and  that  her  father  was  still  living. 
She  went  on  to  say,  that  she  was  weary  of  exile,  had  a 
craving  to  see  her  native  land,  and  hitn ;  described  her- 
self as  tall  and  fair,  very  fond  of  outdoor  sports,  and 
games,  and  hoped  that  he  would  soon  write  to  her, 
send  for  her,  and  allow  her  to  know  him,  and  remained 
his  affectionate  daughter,  Caroline  Blagdon.  '  P.S. — 
Please  address  Miss  Glyn,  Poste  Restante,  Mitzau.  I 
am  sending  you  my  photograph.' 

"  By  George  !  "  he  exclaimed  when  he  came  to  the 
end  of  her  epistle,  "  a  grown-up  daughter,  and  she 
writes  with  spirit ;  no  milk  and  water  about  her !  " 
Yes,  and  here  was  her  photograph.  It  was  many  years 
since  he  had  experienced  such  a  thrill  of  expectation, 
as  when  he  cut  the  string,  and  uncovered  a  cabinet-sized 
photograph  which  displayed  a  handsome  girl,  with  a 
resolute  jaw,  broad  shoulders,  and  large  hands.  It 
must  be  confessed,  that  the  likeness  did  not  do  justice 
to  the  sitter's  best  points — her  hair,  complexion,  and 
teeth. 

"  Not  bad-looking,"  was  her  father's  verdict.  After 
gazing  at  it  for  a  long  time,  studying  the  dress  and 
details,  he  put  both  letter  and  photo  into  his  breast 
coat  pocket,  and  went  off  to  his  bath. 


1 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  353 

No  need  to  do  anything  in  a  hurry  ;  letter-writing 
was  the  mischief,  and  dangerous.  He  would  take 
his  time, — and  he  did.  Several  anxious  epistles  from 
Les  Plans  remained  unnoticed,  and  hence  his  daughter's 
despair.  It  was  evident  that  there  was  nothing  before 
her,  but  the  prospect  of  a  dull  life  in  an  English  village, 
and  she  decided  to  make  the  best  of  circumstances. 

Her  father,  meanwhile,  had  resolved  to  motor  to 
Lucerne  for  his  '  after  cure,'  but  not  commit  himself 
in  any  way.  He  would  first  look  round  cautiously,  and 
see  how  the  land  lay. 

Hugo  Blagdon  in  his  magnificent  car  arrived  early 
in  September,  and  put  up  at  the  National.  After  an 
excellent  lunch — concluded  with  coffee  and  liqueur — ^he 
strolled  forth  on  the  Quai,  and  stared  frowninglyon  the 
lovely  scene ;  the  mountains  and  hills  of  all  shades  of 
blue,  the  lake  gay  with  traffic  ;  finally  he  went  into 
the  Casino  gardens  and  bestowed  his  heavy  form  upon 
a  seat.  The  band  was  playing,  and  the  place  was 
crowded.  He  debated  with  himself  the  question  of  a 
bock — yes  or  no — the  verdict  was  '  no ' :  he  had 
recently  lost  ten  pounds  in  weight  and  must  keep  him- 
self down.  Bye  and  by,  among  the  crowd,  he  was 
glad  to  recognise  a  racing  acquaintance,  and  signalled 
to  him  to  join  him  at  his  little  table. 

As  they  sat,  discussing  jockeys,  weights,  and  other 
matters,  the  man  said  : 

"  This  is  a  great  season,  I  have  never  seen  the  place 
so  full,  nor  so  many  pretty  frocks,  and  faces.  Hullo 
—look  there  !  " 

2    A 


354  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Two  ladies  were  crossing  the  gardens,  both  tall  and 
both  wearing  summer  hats,  and  white  gowns ;  their  air 
and  good  looks  distinguished  them  from  the  crowd. 

For  a  moment  Blagdon  stared  with  stolid  incredulity, 
then  he  hastily  put  down  his  cigar,  for  he  had  recognised 
Letty  !  A  beautiful,  self-possessed  Letty,  with  an  air 
of  fragile  grace,  who,  although  laden  with  several 
parcels,  carried  herself  like  a  queen ;  the  girl,  of 
bigger  build,  with  clouds  of  hair  and  marvellous 
colouring,  was  his  correspondent  Cara, — she  looked 
every  day  of  twenty  ! 

He  was  actually  gazing  at  his  own  wife  and  daughter 
— so  were  others  ;  the  pair  had  been  accosted  by 
friends,  and  stopped  to  talk,  and  this  afforded  the 
spectators  an  opportunity  to  admire. 

"  By  Jove,  Englishwomen  are  hard  to  beat !  I  bet 
those  two  are  English,"  said  his  companion.  "The 
elder  is  the  best  looking — a  handsome  woman.  The 
young  one  seems  full  of  go,  and  what  teeth  and 
colouring  !    But  she  hasn't  her  sister's  figure." 

Here  indeed  was  an  entirely  different  individual  to  the 
cowering  Letty  of  fourteen  years  previously,  and  how 
well  she  had  worn !  Now  she  would  shine  in  any  company 
— his  wife — yes,  and  his  daughter.  She,  too,  was 
ripping :  so  sure  of  herself ;  he  watched  her  gay  ges- 
tures and  broad  smiles,  her  well-cut  frock,  and  neat 
figure — rather  on  the  heavy  side.  What  a  complexion  ! 
By  George,  she'd  make  'em  all  sit  up  !  Yes,  he  decided 
to  claim  her — a  handsome  wife  was  one  thing :  a  hand  - 
some  daughter,  reflected  still  more  credit  on  a  fellow. 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  355 

Cara  was  a  Blagdon — his  own  flesh  and  blood,  and 
he  was  sick  of  his  old  associates. 

"  I  say,  Blagdon,  you  are  not  very  gay ;  the  after 
cure  depressing  ?    Eh  ?  " 

"  No,  I'm  all  right,"  with  a  shake  of  his  great  shoul- 
ders. "  I'm  just  thinking  of  a  good  thing  I've  come  in 
for." 

Repton  stared.  Was  old  Blag  off  his  chump?  had 
he  been  drinking  ? 

"  Oh,  it's  only  a  filly  of  mine,  a  rare  one,  that 
will  show  'em  all  the  way,"  and  he  chuckled  to 
himself. 

"  Ah,  then,  I'll  look  to  you  for  a  tip  !  " 

Blagdon  noted  the  break  up  of  the  party,  which  con- 
cluded with  cordial  hand-shaking,  and  adieux.  Sub- 
sequently mother  and  daughter  walked  away  talking 
together  eagerly — evidently  the  best  of  pals.  He  rose  in- 
stantly, followed,  and  kept  them  in  view.  In  the  Swan 
Platz,  opposite  Cook's,  the  two  separated ;  Letty  to  cross 
the  bridge,  the  girl  to  enter  the  Arcade :  here  he  saw 
her  disappear  into  a  shop,  and  waited.  As  he  waited, 
he  meditated  ;  he  was  full  of  impatience  to  claim  this 
creditable  daughter ;  in  face  her  mother,  in  manner  and 
figure  a  Blagdon.  What — cold  thought — would  Connie 
say  ? — Con,  more  or  less  lived  with,  as  well  as  on  him. 
She  had  the  Blagdon  will,  tongue,  and  temper.  Well, 
from  the  girl's  air  and  off-hand  manner,  he  expected  she 
could  hold  her  own  ;  and  by  George,  he  had  done  a 
lot  for  Con,  from  first  to  last,  and  paid  her  debts  over 
and  over.    It  was  time  he  did  something  for  his  only 


356  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

daughter, — who  had  not  cost  him  a  farthing  since  she 
cut  her  first  teeth.  As  he  conferred  with  himself,  the 
girl  came  briskly  out  of  the  shop.  He  had  been 
pretending  to  be  looking  into  the  window,  and  at 
once  accosted  her. 

"  I  say,"  he  began,  staring  hard  into  her  face, 
"  aren't  you — er — Caroline — Blagdon  ?  " 

She  stood  stock  still,  and  surveyed  him  with  startled 
eyes,  and  a  heightened  colour. 

Could  this  heavy,  elderly  man,  with  a  large,  reddish 
face,  be  her  father  ?  Why  Kaspar  at  the  landing-stage 
looked  more  distinguished.    Of  course  his  clothes  and 

voice  were  all  right — but 

1^  She  nodded  curtly. 

"  I  got  your  letters,"  he  resumed,  "  and  as  I  was  in 
Germany  motoring,  I  thought  I'd  come  on  here  and 
look  you  up.  Seeing  is  believing.  I'm  your  father,  you 
know." 

"  Yes — are  you  ?  " 

"  I  say,  let's  walk  about  a  bit,  where  we  can  talk. 
Where's  your  mother  ?    I  bar  meeting  her." 

"  She  has  gone  across  the  bridge  to  say  good-bye  to 
some  friends  ;  we  are  leaving  next  week.  She  won't 
be  back  for  an  hour.  I'm  to  meet  her  at  the  five 
o'clock  boat." 

"  Oh,  so  then  we  have  a  clear  hour  !  Come  along  to 
the  National. 

For  a  perceptible  pause  Cara's  hesitation  was  ob- 
vious :  she  neither  spoke  nor  stirred — and  her  reluctance 
enormously  enhanced  her  value  in  her  father's  eyes. — 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  357 

However,  as  she  said  to  herself,  she  might  as  well 
hear,  what  he  had  to  propose — no  harm — in  that !  " 

As  they  strolled  together  past  the  shops,  Blagdon 
was  gratified  to  note  how  many  eyes  were  bent  on  his 
companion.  This  was  the  sort  of  girl  that  appealed  to 
him  ;  she  was  well  turned  out,  too,  and  walked  as  if 
the  whole  earth  belonged  to  her. 

"  Lived  here  always  ?  "  he  asked  abruptly. 

"  Yes,  since  I  was  four.    Now  I'm  seventeen." 

"  And  look  every  day  of  twenty  or  more,"  he  ex- 
claimed with  habitual  brusquerie. 

"  Do  I  ?  And  you,"  considering  him  with  cold,  un- 
daunted eyes,  "  I  suppose  are  sixty — or  more  ?  " 

Blagdon's  face  assumed  a  deeper  hue.  His  neck 
appeared  to  swell,  an  apoplectic  seizure  seemed  im- 
minent ;  he  was  not  accustomed  to  be  thus  bearded. 

However,  for  once,  with  a  violent  effort,  he  re- 
strained himself,  and  answered  : 

"  A  fellow's  the  age  he  feels — a  woman  the  age  she 
looks." 

"That's  rubbish!"  declared  his  bold  companion, 
"  and  was  certainly  invented  by  a  man  !  " 

"  I  say,  young  lady,  you  seem  to  have  a  fairly  sharp 
tongue  !  " 

"  A  sharp  tongue  and  a  sweet  temper,"  she  retorted. 

It  was  evident  to  her  electrified  and  humbled  parent, 
that  the  girl  did  not  care  a  brass  farthing  whether  he 
reinstated  her  or  not !  The  saucy  young  woman  was 
entirely  independent,  and  made  no  secret  of  her  atti- 
tude. The  chances  were,  that  if  she  had  been  appealing, 


858  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

eager,  and  slavish,  he  would  not  have  been  so  anxious 
to  claim  her — but  Cara  had  taken  her  father's  measure, 
with  a  very  sure  eye. 

"  Well,  here  we  are,"  he  continued,  leading  the  way 
up  the  steps  ;  "  come  into  the  lounge,  and  let's  get  to 
know  one  another.  I  saw  you  and  your  mother 
together  just  now — you  seem  to  be  tremendous 
pals." 

"  So  we  are,"  said  Cara,  as  she  threw  herself  care- 
lessly into  a  comfortable  chair.  "  My  mother  has  been 
awfully  good  to  me." 

"  Eh  ?  Well,  at  any  rate,  she  ran  away  with  you, 
and  now,"  coming  and  standing  directly  before  her, 
"  what  do  you  say  to  giving  me  a  turn  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  call  a  turn  ?  "  she  enquired,  looking 
back  into  his  eyes,  with  a  true  family  stare ;  the  girl 
had  a  spice  of  the  devil  in  her,  that  was  certain. 

"  You  will  live  with  me  in  Hill  Street,"  he  announced 
pompously  ;  and  seeing  that  this  fact  made  no  impres- 
sion, "  have  a  motor,  and  a  maid." 

"  Yes  ?  "    The  '  yes  '  was  cool  and  indifferent. 

"  As  many  frocks  and  gewgaws  as  you  want,  and 
theatres  and  dances — those  are  not  in  my  line.  I'll 
take  you  racing  ;   I've  a  string  of  horses  in  training." 

"  I  love  racing,"  she  admitted,  "  I've  only  seen 
races  once,  and  that  was  here." 

"  Bah  !  "  with  a  gesture  of  contempt,  "a  set  of 
platers  !    And  so  you  are  on  the  move  at  last  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  we  are  going  to  live  with  Mrs.  Hesketh." 

"  That  old  beldame  !    Well,  you  can  choose  between 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  359 

Thornby  and  Sharsley.  I  won't  have  any  half  measures 
— you  understand  that  ?  " 

"  Am  I  to  be  mistress  of  the  house  ?  "  she  asked 
hardily.     "  I  have  an  aunt,  I  beheve  ?  " 

"  You  have  very  much  an  aunt — ^she'd  make  two — 
but  she  will  move  into  her  own  flat.  You  look  as  if 
you  could  hold  your  own,  and  sit  at  the  head  of  a 
table,  and  square  on  a  horse." 

"  I  daresay  I  can  soon  learn  English  ways,  and 
I'm  sure  I  could  ride — but  I  don't  hke  leaving 
mother." 

"  I  daresay  not  !  You  don't  know  what  is  good  for 
you — and  you  can't  well  bring  her  along,  can  you  ? 
It  must  be  one  of  us,  or  the  other — Glyn  or  Blagdon  !  " 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  and  Cara  rose,  and  walked  slowly 
over  to  the  window,  and  looked  out.  She  was  weighing 
the  vital  question,  '  father  or  mother  '  ?  As  she  stood 
irresolute,  her  eyes  fell  upon  a  splendid  motor  drawn 
up  below  the  hotel — le  dernier  mot  of  luxury,  and  ex- 
travagance. 

"  That's  my  car,"  announced  her  father,  who  had 
followed,  and  was  now  looking  over  her  shoulder. 
"  If  you  decide  on  me,  we  will  go  off  this  evening,  and 
I  must  give  the  chauffeur  instructions  about  getting 
to  Dover.  You  and  I  will  go  straight  to  Paris,  and 
there  you  can  rig  yourself  out  before  we  go  home — and 
the  sooner  we  make  a  start  the  better." 

"  Do  you  really  mean,  that  we  are  to  leave  here  to- 
day ?  "  stammered  Cara ;  who  had  been  thinking  of  de- 
bating the  matter,  and  making  up  her  mind,  at  leisure. 


360  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  Oh,  yes — it's  now  or  never." 

Cara  turned  pale  and  then  red. 

"  I  want  to  get  back  for  the  Leger  ;  you  can  settle 
into  Hill  Street."  Noticing  her  change  of  colour,  he 
became  more  urgent.  "  Your  grandmother's  lot  will 
take  you  up — the  old  Scropes  are  tremendous  swells, 
and  your  cousins  the  Calthorpes  and  Montfords  will 
trot  you  out  and  present  you  at  Court,  and  all  that 
sort  of  thing — balls,  and  so  on.  Of  course,  you  are  a 
bit  young  ;  but,  as  I  tell  you,  you  look  old — old  enough 
to  sport  the  Blagdon  diamonds  ;  and  the  family  dia- 
monds are  quite  top-hole  !  There  isn't  a  finer  show  in 
any  opera-house." 

Presentations  at  Court,  diamonds,  French  frocks, 
balls,  races,  the  command  of  a  large  establishment — 
Cara  felt  that  her  head  was  swimming  !  What  were 
her  mother  and  Oldcourt  in  comparison  to  such  dazz- 
ling temptations  ?  Of  course,  she  was  behaving 
badly  ;  but  in  this  world  everyone  must  play  for  their 
own  hand.  The  Mum  had  made  terrible  mistakes,  and 
'  revoked,'  so  to  speak.  Because  she  had  spoiled  her 
life,  why  should  she,  Cara,  do  likewise  ?  She  felt 
confident,  that  she  could  get  on  all  right  with  this 
burly,  rough  sort  of  father,  and  was  not  the  least 
afraid  of  him. 

"  Yes,  by  Jove,  you  and  I  will  make  a  bolt  ;  give 
your  mother  the  slip,  and  pay  her  out  in  her  own  coin, 
ha  !  ha  !    She's  given  to  running  away." 

"  If  I  come  to  live  with  you,  you  must  never  say  a 
word  against  the  Mum." 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  361 

"  The  word  '  must '  is  never  to  be  used  to  me,"  he 
answered  savagely. 

"  But  why  not  ?  "  demanded  Cara,  looking  up  at 
him  with  twinkling  eyes,  and  an  enchanting  smile. 

What  cheek  she  had !  and  what  teeth  !  Absolutely 
perfect.    Slightly  mollified,  he  resumed  : 

"  If  you  are  a  good  girl,  I  think  we  shall  pull  along 
together  all  right,  and  I'll  say  this  for  your  mother,  she 
had  a  snaffle  mouth, — though  she  did  bolt.  Of  course, 
you  are  inexperienced  in  English  customs  and  house- 
keeping, but  you  have  the  cut  of  a  girl  who  will  soon 
know  the  ropes." 

"  If  I  go  with  you  to-day,  what  am  I  to  do  for 
clothes  ?    All  my  things  are  up  at  Les  Plans." 

"  I  can  lend  you  a  motor-coat  to  travel  in,  and  you 
will  be  in  Paris  in  the  early  morning.  We'll  start  at 
six,  and  dine  on  the  train." 

"  Very  well,"  she  said  gravely  ;  "  so  be  it." 

"  All  right,  that's  settled,  Cara,"  and  he  gripped  her 
hand  with  a  gesture  of  possession.  "  Give  me  a  kiss 
on  the  bargain  !  " 

She  glanced  round  apprehensively — they  were  alone 
in  the  lounge,  then  offered  her  square  jaw,  to  his  lips. 

"  By  Jove,  I'm  glad  to  have  you,  my  girl !  "  he  said 
with  hearty  satisfaction.  "  When  a  man  is  getting  on 
a  bit,  he  feels  the  want  of  someone  about  him — some- 
one belonging  to  him — and  that  he — er — can  be  proud 
of." 

As  Cara  and  her  father  stood  side  by  side,  the  five 
o'clock  boat  moved  slowly  from  her  moorings,  and  came 


362  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

out  into  the  lake,  exactly  opposite  to  where  they  were 
stationed. 

"It's  the  Stadthof.  There  goes  mother !  "  said  Cara 
with  a  slight  catch  in  her  breath,  "  wondering  what  has 
become  of  me  ;  that  is  her  I  am  sure — the  figure  at 
the  end.  She  expects  to  see  me  tearing  along  the  Quai. 
Don't  you  see  the  lady  with  the  blue  sunshade — looking 
back  ?  " 

"  No,  my  sight  is  not  as  young  as  yours,"  he  answered 
gruffly.  "  She  may  look  and  look,  but  you  have  done 
with  her,  you  know,  and  have,  what  is  called,  burned 
your  boats  !  Now,  come  along  with  me,  and  I'll  buy 
you  a  little  souvenir  of  the  occasion  !  " 

The  souvenir,  took  the  form  of  a  superb  diamond  ring, 
which  Cara  placed  with  ecstasy  upon  her  third  finger. 
The  purchase  had  been  speedy — since  Blagdon,  a 
moneyed  man,  always  knew  exactly  what  he  wanted — 
and  as  they  emerged  to  the  water-side,  Cara  gazed 
nervously  down  the  lake.  Yes,  the  steamer,  bearing 
her  mother  out  of  her  life,  was  still  in  sight.  Her  eyes, 
as  she  watched  it  rounding  the  promontory,  were 
blinded  with  tears  ;  when  she  had  brushed  these  away, 
she  looked  once  more,  but  the  Stadthof  and  her 
pretty  Mum,  had  disappeared,  as  far  as  she  was 
concerned,  for  ever. 


Having  accomplished  her  errands  and  visits,  Letty 
arrived  punctually  at  the  Bahnhof  Pier,  and  looked 
eagerly  around  for  Cara  and  her  parcels ;  but  no  Cara 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  S63 

appeared — she  was  not  even  in  sight  as  the  boat  cast 
off.  Letty  and  her  daughter  were  dining  that  evening 
with  Mrs.  Hesketh,  and  at  the  Paradis  she  anxiously 
awaited  her.  Cara  had  missed  a  boat  on  several 
occasions,  and  come  by  the  next  ;  and  now  every 
time  the  great  revolving  door  swung,  she  expected  to 
see  her  enter.  Time  went  on,  dinner  was  over,  the  nine, 
o'clock  steamer  had  passed  by,  brilliantly  illuminated. 

"  What  can  have  become  of  Cara  ?  "  said  her  mother. 
"  I  know  she  was  going  to  the  Convent — it  is  not  hke 
them  to  keep  the  child  so  late.  Shall  we  go  and  wait  in 
the  lounge  ?  " 

When  the  ladies  entered,  the  hall,  the  concierge  came 
forward  with  a  thin  blue  telegram,  addressed  to 
'  Mrs.  Glyn,'  and  handed  it  to  Letty,  who  tore  it 
open  with  shaking  fingers.  As  her  eyes  glanced  over 
the  contents,  she  gave  a  faint  exclamation  and 
dropped  the  paper.  Mrs.  Hesketh  picked  it  up  in- 
stantly, and  read  : 

"  Leaving  for  Paris  with  father.  Good-bye.  C. 
Blagdon." 


CHAPTER    XXXIV 

THE  shock  of  Cara's  desertion  prostrated  her 
mother,  and  for  many  days  she  remained  at 
the  Paradis,  blanched  and  shaken,  a  stricken,  ghost- 
Hke  guest.  Her  friend  (now  completely  restored)  had 
taken  the  helm  of  her  life  in  her  hands,  and  was 
making  rapid  preparations  for  their  departure  to 
England. 

"  My  poor  dear  child,"  she  said,  "  I  am  desperately 
sorry  for  you.  That  your  wound  is  deep,  I  know. 
'  How  sharper  than  the  serpent's  tooth  it  is  to  have  a 
thankless  child,'  so  said  old  King  Lear  ;  all  the  same, 
you  will  get  over  it." 

"  No,  never,  never  !  "  replied  Letty  with  energetic 
emphasis ;  and  her  voice  and  face  were  unrecognisably 
hard. 

"  Certainly  you  will.  I  speak  from  experience. 
When  my  little  boy  died " 

"  Your  boy  !  "  inteiTupted  Letty,  hfting  her  head  ; 
"  I  never  knew  you  had  a  child  !  " 

"  I  do  not  speak  of  him,  but  he  was  my  treasure  :  a 
darling.  When  he  was  three  years  old  he  fell  out  of  a 
window,  and  was  killed  before  my  very  eyes.  Then, 
indeed,  I  would  gladly  have  laid  me  down  and  died — 
but  here  I  am  !   trying  to  encourage  you  to  rise  again 

364 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  865 

and  plod  along  the  highway  known  as  Life.  If  Harry 
had  lived,  he  would  be  your  age  ;  it  is  thirty-five  years 
since  they  closed  the  coffin-lid  upon  his  little  angel 
face.  To  add  to  my  agony,  my  husband  declared  that 
the  accident  was  my  fault  ;  the  child  was  watching 
me  mounting  my  horse,  he  overbalanced,  the  nurse 
grabbed  at  him,  but  only  his  sash,  remained  in  her 
hand." 

"  How  dreadful !  "  cried  her  listener  with  streaming 
tears. 

"  Yes,  dear,  you  may  weep  a  little  for  me  ;  but  as 
for  yourself,  you  must  dry  your  tears,  and  enter  upon 
another  life." 

It  had  been  mooted  on  the  mountain-side,  in  farm- 
houses and  cow-houses,  that  the  rosy-cheeked  English 
girl,  claimed  by  a  rich  father,  had  forsaken  the  pretty 
mother  who  for  thirteen  years  had  toiled  for  her  sup- 
port.   Ah,  a  wustus  maden ! — (a  bad  girl). 

A  surprising  amount  of  kindly  sympathy  was  felt 
and  shown  ;  many  little  farewell  gifts  were  left  at  the 
Paradis,  addressed  to  '  Frau  Glyn,'  and  one  afternoon 
Letty  nerved  herself  to  ascend  to  Les  Plans,  for  the 
last  time,  in  order  to  take  leave  of  its  inmates.  There 
they  were,  all  ready  to  welcome  her  !  the  Josts,  Freda, 
the  Frau  herself,  and  a  new  dog — another  Karo.  In 
the  low-roofed  sitting-room,  when  Letty  and  Frau 
Hurter  were  alone,  she  said  : 

"  All  my  little  things  here,  my  chair,  and  lace  pillow, 
work-basket,  harmonium,  and  tea-service  I  hope  you 
will  accept." 


366  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  But,  mein  Hebe  Fran,  I  never  sew  or  play  tunes.  I 
am  old,  and  my  fingers  are  like  wood." 

"  Fritz's  wife  will  be  young  ?  " 

"  Fritz — ach  ye  !  He  knows.  My  cousin  writes  he 
is  as  mad,  and  off  his  head ;  he  says  he  goes  to  America, 
he  cannot  live  here,  ever — without  her.  The  boy  comes 
to  say  good-bye  in  two  days,  and  then  we  are  forsaken 
— you  and  I,  by  those  for  whom  we  would  give  the  life's 
blood." 

"  He  will  get  over  it,  dear  Frau.  Fritz  is  so  young. 
Ask  him  to  come  and  talk  to  me,  and  I  wiU  do  my 
best,  to  persuade  him  to  stay." 

"  Yes,  it  may  do  good,  since  he  loves  you — we  can 
but  try,"  she  paused  to  wipe  her  eyes  on  her  apron  ; 
"  but  as  for  you,  dear  lady,  my  heart  aches.  It  seems 
but  yesterday,  when  you  stood  out  there  in  the  garden 
in  the  sunshine  a  girl,  with  Mitli  in  your  arms.  What 
you  have  been  to  her  ever  since,  the  good  God,  and  I, 
alone  know.  Now  she  has  deserted  you ;  try  and  put 
her  away  from  your  thoughts. — You  are  still  young, 
you  have  your  own  life." 

"  I  am  going  to  make  another  home ;  but  what  can 
replace  a  child?"  cried  Letty,  rising  as  she  spoke. 
"  I  want  to  see  her  room,  and  settle  about  her 
things." 

"  Her  room  is  dusted  and  in  order,  otherwise  as 
she  left  it.  We  will  go  there  now,"  and  Frau  Hurter 
climbed  the-stairs,  and  threw  open  the  door  into  an 
empty  chamber. 

There  were  Cara's  familiar  frocks  hanging  on  familiar 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  867 

hooks  ;  her  silver-backed  hair  -  brushes  (a  birthday 
gift)  on  the  dressing-table ;  a  hat  with  the  pins  still 
sticking  in  it,  as  it  had  been  cast  down,  lay  on  the  bed. 
There  was  a  little  writing-table  and  blotter — both 
spattered  with  ink — and  peeping  in  at  the  window  that 
hoary  old  pear  tree — the  accomplice  of  the  girl  in  her 
midnight  flights. 

"  Ach  ye  I  "  exclaimed  Frau  Hurter  in  a  lachrymose 
key,  "  there  is  the  blouse  you  made  her  ;  the  skirt  you 
embroidered,  the  little  slippers. — Freda  and  I  will 
pack  everything,  and  send  them  down  by  Jost." 

"  No,  no  ;  I  could  not  bear  to  see  them  again,"  pro- 
tested Letty,  making  an  effort  to  choke  back  her  tears. 
"  Please  keep  all,  except  the  books  and  writing 
materials,  and  personal  treasures,"  gathering  them 
together  in  feverish  haste. 

"  Here  are  dozens  and  dozens  of  letters,"  announced 
Frau  Hurter,  who  was  diving  into  a  deep  drawer. 

"  What  of  them,  meine  Frau  ?  " 

"  Let  them  go  too." 

"  To  England  !    Why  not  burn  them  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  we  will  stuff  them  into  this  silk  work-bag, 
and  tie  them  securely — let  the  child  have  all  she  values. 
I  will  send  a  maid  to-morrow  to  pack,  and  forward 
everything  to  London."  After  a  pause,  and  a  last 
look  round,  she  added,  "  I  have  been  very,  very  happy 
here,  dear  Frau,  and  I  love  your  country — but  I  am 
leaving  it  in  a  few  days, — never  to  return." 

The  two  women  clasped  hands,  and  Frau  Hurter, 
the  stony-faced,  suddenly  drew  her  fellow-sufferer  into 


868  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

her  bony  embrace,  and  kissed  her  with  a  sort  of  dry 
and  concentrated  passion. 

As  Letty  walked  down  the  hill  that  lovely  September 
evening,  she  halted  for  a  farewell  look  at  the  gleaming 
lake  and  range  of  mountains — a  scene  beloved  and 
familiar  as  the  face  of  a  dear  friend.  How  many  hundred 
times  had  she  climbed  this  well-worn  path — since  the 
day  she  had  first  carried  Cara  to  the  farm  !  Here  on 
this  very  spot,  the  little  plateau  under  the  pear  trees, 
had  Cara  thrown  her  arms  about  her,  assuring  her  with 
warm  kisses  that  "  she  would  never,  never,  never  leave 
her  own  darling  Mum  !  " 

As  a  pair  of  sad  eyes,  rested  on  the  matchless 
prospect,  the  sun  was  setting  behind  Pilatus, — who 
stood  forth  grim  and  rugged,  against  a  flaming 
background  of  red  and  gold — a  glorious  afterglow 
spread  itself  over  the  slopes  of  the  Rigi,  changing 
its  strata  of  granite  to  rose  colour,  the  intervening 
pastures  to  a  cloudy  blue.  Then  very  gradually, 
as  if  by  the  touch  of  a  magic  wand,  a  delicate 
ethereal  haze  dissolved  the  entire  scene  into  an  ex- 
quisite shade  of  amethyst, — the  curtain  had  fallen, 
and  a  glorious  September  day,  was  numbered  with 
the  past. 

The  air  was  still:  the  sleepy tinkhng  of  a  little  stream, 
a  far-away  hoot  of  some  steamer  approaching  a  landing- 
stage,  the  faint  sound  of  a  chapel  bell  were  the  only 
sounds  that  broke  a  curiously  reverent,  and  impressive 
silence. 

Presently  beautiful  Hesperus,  wrapped  in  her  misty 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  869 

mantle,  came  gliding  along  the  mountain-tops,  and 
hung  her  bright  star  in  the  sky,  and  Letty  continued 
her  wav. 


Blagdon's  arrivals  and  departures  were  notoriously 
abrupt,  and  after  a  busy  and  exciting  three  days  in 
Paris,  he  appeared  in  Hill  Street  with  his  unheralded 
companion  ;  looking  forward  with  a  sort  of  brutal  glee 
to  '  taking  a  splendid  rise  out  of  old  Connie.'  He  had 
merely  announced  his  immediate  return,  '  bringing  a 
friend.' 

It  was  eight  o'clock  when  he  entered  his  smoking- 
room,  closely  attended  by  Cara  (who  had  been  not  a 
httle  impressed  by  her  father's  wealth,  the  appearance 
of  the  home,  and  its  group  of  silent,  dignified  men- 
servants — a  home  where  she  was  to  reign  as  mistress). 
Here,  sunken  in  an  arm-chair,  with  a  dog  on  her  lap,  a 
cigarette  in  her  mouth,  a  sporting  paper  in  her  hand, 
they  discovered  Lady  Rashleigh.  She  was  greatly 
changed  ;  her  figure  was  shapeless,  her  hair  a  foxy  grey, 
her  skin  coarse,  and  decpl}'  lined — altogether,  especially 
in  a  shabby  deshabille,  she  deservedly  earned  the 
adjective  '  Blowsy.'  Yet  at  race  meetings,  in  a  well- 
cut  coat  and  handsome  furs,  Con  Rashleigh  was  still 
regarded  as  a  wonderful  woman  for  sixty — pity  she 
had  let  her  figure  go  ! 

"  Hullo,  Blag  !  "  she  exclaimed,  as  she  removed  her 
cigarette,  "  so  here  you  are  !  Have  you  seen  this 
Handicap — why — who's  this  ?  "   surveying  her  niece 

2   B 


870  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

with  an  aggressive  stare.  Hugo  occasionally  intro- 
duced startling  acquaintances.  "  Who  have  we  here  ?  " 
throwing  down  the  Pom,  and  rising  heavily  to  her  feet. 

The  stranger  was  a  tall,  handsome  girl  with  a  vague 
resemblance  to  someone — why,  to  Letty,  to  be  sure  ! 
In  an  illuminating  flash  she  saw  it  all !  Blag  had 
sprung  one  of  his  jokes  on  her,  and  brought  home  the 
daughter  ! 

"  It's  only  my  little  girl,"  he  announced  with  in- 
describable pride  ;  "  five-foot-six  in  her  stockings.  She 
has  chucked  Switzerland,  and  come  to  live  with  me." 

"  Ah,  so  this  is  Cara,"  drawing  her  towards  her  as 
she  spoke. 

del  I  How  her  aunt  smelt  of  whisky,  and  tobacco  ; 
— just  like  a  man,  thought  the  girl  as  she  passively 
submitted  to  her  kisses. 

"  Why  did  you  not  prepare  me  ?  Why  keep  this 
pleasure  to  yourself  ?  "  continued  Lady  Rashleigh  with 
ostentatious  composure. — In  that  brief  moment  she 
had  decided  to  be  civil  to  the  new-comer,  and  make  no 
scene.  Hugo  was  undoubtedly  struck,  but  his  fancies 
never  lasted  ;  he  would  tire  of  his  novelty  before  the 
month  was  out,  and  she  resolved  to  sit  tight  in  Hill 
Street — the  flat  was  let.  This  well-grown  interloper 
knew  nothing  of  English  society,  and  she  determined 
to  keep  her  in  the  background,  and  rule  her,  as  she  had 
done  the  pink-cheeked  little  fool,  her  mother. 

But  it  was  not  long — in  fact,  less  than  five  minutes — 
before  Connie  Rashleigh  discovered  her  mistake.  Cara 
was  a  true  chip  of  the  old  block,  as  hard  and  ruthless 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  371 

as  herself,  and  with  all  the  cocksureness  and  cruelty 
of  youth.  The  girl's  manner  was  self-possessed,  she 
talked  glibly  of  Paris  and  their  journey,  and  became 
surprisingly  animated  as  she  volubly  described  her  new 
gowns.  Meanwhile,  her  father  looked  on  with  swelling 
pride.  His  eyes  seemed  to  ask,  Was  there  ever  such  a 
complexion  ?  such  hair  ?  such  teeth  ?  Connie  Rashleigh 
stared  and  listened  with  a  feeling  of  dismal  appre- 
hension— which  apprehension  proved  to  be  but  too 
well  founded,  when  at  a  hint  from  her  father,  Cara, 
in  a  trailing  tea-gown,  sailed  into  the  dining-room 
before  her  aunt,  and  sank  into  a  chair  at  the  head  of 
the  table. 

"  Cara  is  beginning  as  she  is  to  go  on,"  explained 
Hugo.  "  She  is  installed  as  the  mistress  of  the  house — 
the  robes,  and  the  keys — eh,  Cara  ?  " 

His  methods  were  ever  blunt :  his  idea  of  diplomacy 
a  bludgeon  ! 

And  Lady  Rashleigh,  choking  with  impotent  fury, 
was  compelled  to  subside  into  a  place  at  the  side  of 
the  board,  with  what  appetite  and  grace  she  could 
assume. 

"  Champagne,  Carter — the  '94,"  commanded  his 
master  ;  "we  will  drink  Miss  Blagdon's  health  and 
welcome." 

From  this  hour  war — internecine,  secret,  and  deadly 
— was  declared  between  aunt  and  niece  ;  but  the 
victory  was  ever  to  the  young.  Cara  ruled  her  father, 
dominated  the  household,  and  openly  despised  her 
predecessor. 


872  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

Cara  was  a  '  female  bounder, '  in  the  opinion  of  that 
lady,  and  brutally  selfish.  She  '  grabbed  '  everything  : 
the  best  room,  the  use  of  the  motor,  the  carriage,  the 
pick  of  Mudie's  books,  and  the  most  comfortable 
chairs.  She  poured  out  tea,  did  the  honours  with 
amazing  self-possession,  and  left  her  aunt  to  enjoy 
the  agreeable  sensation  of  being  the  odd  one  out, — 
and  that,  in  the  house  in  which  she  had  been  bom ! 

Hugo  had  a  few  words  to  say  to  his  sister  with  re- 
spect to  the  new  mistress. 

"  Look  here,  old  girl,  you  must  make  it  all  right  for 
Cara.  Take  her  round  the  Scrope  lot,  and  write  to 
those  in  the  country,  and  tell  them  she  is  with  me.  I 
want  her  to  get  a  flying  start  ;  and  you  know  on  which 
side  your  bread  is  buttered,"  he  added  with  blunt 
significance  and  doubtful  taste.  "  After  Christmas  we 
are  going  to  Monte  Carlo,  and  you  must  trot  back  to 
your  own  flat  ;  the  girl  says  this  house  wants  doing 
up,  and  that  the  curtains  and  paper  in  the  drawing- 
room,  make  her  sea-sick." 

The  curtains  and  paper,  Lady  Rashleigh's  joy  and 
delight,  had  been  her  own  selection  ! 

Mr.  Blagdon  did  not  (as  his  sister  had  hopefully 
anticipated)  tire  of  his  new  discovery  ;  on  the  contrary, 
he  was  blatantly  proud  of  his  daughter,  of  her  youth, 
good  looks,  and  animal  spirits.  She  was  not  a  success 
among  her  grandmother's  set  (and  a  little  cowed  by 
that  old  lady),  but  for  the  sake  of  the  family,  they 
accepted  this  loud,  bouncing  young  person — they 
shrank  from  further  scandal.    The  girl  carried  herself 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  873 

well,  knew  how  to  dress,  spoke  French  fluently,  and 
danced  admirably.  She  might  have  been  worse !  Who 
could  believe,  that  she  had  been  brought  up  on  a 
Swiss  farm  ?  but  then,  these  dear  ladies  had  no  ex- 
perience of  the  modern  education  which  is  afforded 
in  Swiss  schools. 

This  quick-witted,  adaptable  damsel,  soon  picked  up 
society  and  racing  jargon  ;  she  had  the  aplomb  of  a 
woman  of  thirty,  ruled  her  adoring  father,  banished 
her  unruly  aunt,  patronised — yes,  patronised,  the 
Slaters,  and  overawed  Lord  Robby — in  short,  a 
domestic  Queen  Elizabeth  ! 

It  was  a  cruel  blow  to  poor  Lady  Rashleigh  to  be 
compelled  to  abandon  her  luxurious  home,  the  use  of 
a  motor,  gifts  of  money,  and  the  loan  of  jewels,  in  order 
to  make  way  for  a  bold,  aggressive  young  woman, 
who  was  said  to  bear  a  resemblance  to  herself  ! 
She  retired  in  deplorably  low  spirits  to  what  she  was 
pleased  to  call  '  her  lair.'  A  six-roomed  flat,  with 
two  good  sitting-rooms,  two  small  bedrooms,  and  the 
usual  black  hole  for  the  accommodation  of  servants. 
Cara  paid  her  aunt  a  prompt  visit — inspired  by 
curiosity,  not  affection.  The  suite,  shabby  and  dusty, 
commanded  an  extensive  view  of  a  garage  ;  the  draw- 
ing-room was  well  furnished,  but  had  the  rakish  air 
of  a  passee  beauty;  and  sofas  and  cabinets,  (evident 
spoil  from  Sharsley,)  blocked  up  too  much  space.  The 
bedroom, — also  encumbered  by  Sharsley  furniture, 
seemed  to  be  half  filled  with  piles  of  shabby  cardboard 
boxes  of  all  sizes  ;    here  too  were  dozens  of  dusty 


374  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

medicine  bottles,  ragged  novels,  old  shoes,  and  on  the 
dressing-table,  a  coil  of  false  hair,  cigarette  ashes,  a 
syphon,  and  the  latest  edition  of  Ru-ff.  Two  little 
barking  Poms  ran  in  and  out  ;  and  a  gloomy  cook, 
with  arms  akimbo,  stood  in  the  kitchen  doorway 
staring  with  lowering  eyes.  Everything  was  untidy, 
neglected,  and  squalid.  No  wonder  Aunt  Con  pre- 
ferred to  hang  on  in  Hill  Street ! 

And  so  the  months  passed,  and  Cara  tasted  intoxi- 
cating delights  of  which  she  had  merely  dreamt.  Among 
her  father's  associates,  Miss  Blagdon  enjoyed  un  grand 
succes.  Here  was  no  shrinking,  awkward  hostess,  but 
one  whose  dancing,  skating,  riding,  and  repartee  found 
many  admirers, — whilst  her  influence  over  an  adoring 
parent  was  paraded  with  noisy  ostentation.  As  for 
her  mother — she  stored  her  comfortably  away  in  tha 
remotest  garret  of  her  mind.  They  had  met  once  ;  it 
happened  in  a  block  in  Piccadilly.  Cara,  queening  it 
in  a  huge  open  motor,  with  furs  and  rug  of  sable  ;  her 
mother  and  Mrs.  Hesketh  in  a  station  omnibus,  with 
luggage  on  top.  She  had  stared  at  her  Mum,  and  the 
Mum  had  bowed,  but  Cara  was  so  taken  aback  by  the 
unexpected  encounter,  that  she  forgot  to  return  the 
salute ;  then  there  was  a  violent  jerk,  the  policeman 
had  given  a  signal,  and  the  omnibus  passed  on. 

What  a  thing  to  have  happened — she  had  actually 
cut  her  own  mother.    How  funny  ! 


CHAPTER    XXXV 

AS  for  Letty  Glyn,  she  returned  to  Thornby  bearing 
^  her  maiden  name  ;  a  disgraced  wife,  who  eigh- 
teen years  previously  had  left  the  village  in  such  a 
blaze  of  triumph,  that  its  reflection  had  illuminated 
three  parishes.  The  knowledge  of  her  altered  circum- 
stances had  long  been  public  property,  and  mothers 
whispered  to  their  daughters  as  she  passed,  the  story 
of  pretty  Miss  Letty,  sometimes  adding  :  "  Aye,  she 
was  a  rare  beauty,  and  carries  her  looks  still  1  " 

A  paragraph  in  a  society  paper  which  penetrated  to 
the  Indian  frontier,  informed  Colonel  Lumley  that 
*  Hugo  Blagdon  and  his  daughter  Miss  Blagdon  had 
returned  to  Hill  Street  from  the  Riviera.' 

So  Cara,  the  blue-eyed,  had  deserted  her  mother,  and 
gone  over  to  the  enemy !  And  now  Letty  was  free, 
since  '  the  cause  and  impediment '  had  abandoned 
her.  He  determined  to  go  home  at  once  ;  but  leave, 
what  about  leave  ?  Camps  and  manoeuvres  were  on 
foot — he  must  bide  his  time  until  the  autumn.  Mean- 
while, he  wrote  and  announced  his  plans  and  intentions 
to  Mrs.  Glyn,  Oldcourt,  and  she  showed  her  friend  part 
of  a  letter  which  said  : 

"  I  shall  take  three  months'  '  privilege  leave  '  to 
England,  and  I  do  not  intend  on  this,  the  third, 
occasion,  to  return  alone." 

375 


376  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

It  was  early  in  September  when  Colonel  Lumley 
landed  at  Dover.  As  he  glanced  through  the  day's 
papers  in  the  London  train,  his  eye  was  arrested  by 
this  paragraph  :  "  Sudden  death  of  Hugo  Blagdon,  the 
well-known  sportsman . " 

It  appeared  that  Mr.  Blagdon  had  had  a  seizure  on 
a  race-course,  been  conveyed  to  his  hotel  in  an  uncon- 
scious condition,  and  there  died.  Here,  indeed,  was 
news  ! 

That  same  evening  Colonel  Lumley  went  down  to 
Thornby,  where  he  was  warmly  welcomed  by  his 
relatives.  He  dined  at  Oldcourt,  and  as  he  and  Letty 
sat  once  more  at  the  table  of  a  hostess  who  had  once 
rashly  attempted  to  lend  a  hand  to  Fate — they 
were  a  striking  pair — though  eighteen  years  had 
elapsed  since  their  last  meeting  in  that  very  room. 
In  spite  of  the  cruel  shocks  of  fortune,  Letty  was  still 
a  beautiful  woman  ;  the  line  of  her  features,  the  deli- 
cacy of  her  skin,  the  shine  on  her  glorious  hair,  had  not 
been  tarnished.  She  looked  radiant  in  mauve  chiffon, 
and  wearing  her  mother's  Indian  pearls.  Her  fiance, 
bronzed  and  in  a  way  storm-beaten,  was  handsome ; 
the  wearer  of  three  well-deserved  medals,  and  a  leader 
of  men — but  the  simple  girl  of  seventeen,  and  young, 
eager,  and  impassioned  Lancelot,  were  no  more. 

The  following  afternoon  they  walked  together  to  the 
crooked  bridge,  so  well  remembered  by  both ;  they 
recalled  that  winter  sunset,  the  spasmodic  talk,  the 
expressive  silence  of  many  years  ago  ;  between  then 
and  now,  what  a  stretch  of  wide  experience  ! 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  877 

"  If  I  had  only  spoken  out  the  last  time  I  was 
here,"  said  Lumley,  "what  a  lot  it  would  have  saved 
us  1  I  daresay  we  would  have  been  married  in  a 
couple  of  years,  and  when  our  hearts  were  younger — 
though  for  you,  Letty,  mine  has  never  changed  !  " 

"Aunt  Dorothy  would  never  have  allowed  it," 
replied  Letty  with  decision  ;  "  never.  And  you  know 
how  she  persuaded  your  aunt  to  tell  me,  that  an  engage- 
ment between  us,  would  be  j^our  ruin." 

"  Good  Lord,  what  a  woman  !  " 

"  I  really  married  Hugo  because  I  was  terriiied  of 
her." 

"  Yes,  unfortunate  child,  and  went  straight  out  of 
the  frying-pan,  into  the  fire." 

"  But,  Lancelot,  I  was  the  last  sort  of  wife  for 
Hugo.  I  always  seemed  to  do  the  wrong  thing.  I 
believe,  he  would  have  been  quite  happy  with  a  woman 
of  his  own  world.  I  was  an  experiment  ;  a  mistake," 
and  her  lip  quivered. 

"  A  costly  mistake  for  you  !  Poor  Letty,"  and  he 
looked  at  her  with  peculiar  tenderness.  Now  at  last 
she  should  have  someone  to  protect  her ;  someone  to 
stand  between  her,  and  the  buffetings  of  Fate.  "  Where 
is  your  aunt  ?  "  he  enquired,  "  dead  ?  "  the  tone  was 
positively  hopeful. 

"  No,  indeed,  she  is  married  again  to  a  man  ten  years 
younger  than  herself.  They  live  at  Brighton  on  her 
money ;  and  I'm  told, — though  this  is  dreadful  gossip, — 
that  he  gambles  and  flirts,  and  leads  her  rather  a  life  ; 
but  he  is  very  good-looking,  and  she  adores  him." 


378  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

"  Impossible  !  She  never  adored  anything  in  her 
life  but  a  blue  plate  !  Letty,  to  turn  to  another  much 
more  interesting  subject — you  will  marry  me  soon, 
won't  you — in  a  week  ?  '* 

"  Oh,  no,  Lancelot — he  was  only  buried  at  Sharsley 
on  Friday.  Let  us  wait  a  month,  since" — and  she 
swallowed  a  lump  in  her  throat — "  we  have  waited  so 
long." 

"  Well,  all  right,  a  month,  so  be  it  ;  a  month 
from  to-day." 

Later,  as  they  strolled  towards  the  village,  Lumley 
said  : 

"  When  I  passed  through  town  yesterday,  I  lunched 
at  the  Rag,  and  heard  some  fellows  talking.  They  said 
Blagdon  had  been  frightfully  hard  hit  over  the  Leger, 
and  indeed  lately  all  round.  When  the  numbers  went 
up  he  dropped  his  glasses,  turned  purple,  and  collapsed. 
The  doctors  and  the  girl  got  him  home.  I'm  afraid  it 
will  be  a  tremendous  change  for  her." 

"  Yes,  poor  child,  it  must  have  been  a  dreadful  shock ; 
but  she  will  be  rich — Cara  is  well  provided  for." 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  ;  you  know  the  property  is  en- 
tailed. Old  Laban  Blagdon  never  dreamt  that  the  place 
he  was  so  proud  of,  would  pass  to  a  New  Zealand 
squatter." 

"  He  will  sell  it,  of  course," 

"  Impossible  ;  it's  strictly  tied  up  ;  miserable  man, 
it  will  be  his  white  elephant.  Frances  says  the  house 
is  tumbhng  to  pieces,  and  that  rabbits  swarm  in  the 
grounds." 


THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH  879 

Later  that  same  afternoon,  the  Blagdon  affairs  were 
discussed  in  the  Rectory  drawing-room  by  Mrs. 
Denton,  her  nephew,  and  Mrs.  Hesketh, — whilst  the 
Rector  took  his  friend  Letty  into  the  garden  in  order 
to  advise  her  respecting  some  important  improvements. 

"  I  had  a  long  letter  this  morning  from  Doodie," 
announced  her  cousin.  "  You  know  she  is  always  so 
deeply  interested  in  legacies,  and  wills.  She  tells  me  that 
Hugo  Blagdon's  debts  to  money-lenders  are  enormous  ; 
and  the  Hill  Street  house  is  mortgaged  to  the  roof,  and 
must  be  sold  as  it  stands — and  if  there  is  three  or  four 
hundred  a  year  for  Cara,  she  may  think  herself  lucky. 
She  and  her  aunt  are  to  live  together  in  the  flat." 

"  I  wonder  how  that  arrangement  will  work  out  ?  " 
said  Colonel  Lumley,  "  and  how  Cara  and  her  aunt  will 
agree  ?  " 

"  They  will  fight  like  the  Kilkenny  cats,"  rejoined 
Mrs.  Hesketh  with  prompt  decision.  "  Let  us  hope 
they  will  come  to  the  same  historical  end." 

"  My  dear  friend,"  protested  Mrs.  Denton,  "  I  know 
you  don't  mean  that  !  As  for  Cara,  of  course  she  is 
headstrong,  but  she  is  young,  and  perhaps " 

At  this  moment  the  door  opened  to  admit  a  maid 
carrying  the  tea-tray.  As  she  was  immediately  followed 
by  Cara's  mother,  and  the  Rector,  Mrs.  Denton's 
sentence  remained  for  ever  incomplete. 

There  was  a  quiet  wedding  at  Thornby  when,  for 
the  second  time,  '  Lettice  Kathleen  '  was  married  by 
Mr.  Denton.     On  this  occasion,  it  was  quite  a  humble 


380  THE   SERPENT'S   TOOTH 

affair  ;  there  were  no  arches,  no  rice-throwing,  no 
champing  grey  horses,  or  gaping  crowds  ;  the  newly 
wedded  couple,  motored  away  from  the  church,  and 
spent  the  honeymoon  in  Devonshire. 

Shortly  before  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Lumley  took  their 
departure  for  Lucknow,  the  latter  received  a  long 
letter  from  her  daughter.  It  was  urgent,  incoherent, 
and  self-excusing  (the  immediate  result  of  a  terrific 
encounter  with  her  companion  in  the  lair).  She  im- 
plored her  own  sweet  darling  Mum,  to  take  her  with  her 
to  India.  Unlike  the  application  to  her  father,  this 
effusion  was  not  rewritten,  altered,  and  recast :  but 
inscribed  with  many  dashes,  a  flowing  pen  and  assured 
confidence.  Cara  told  herself,  that  the  Mum  who  had 
never  said  no  to  her  in  all  her  life,  or  turned  a  deaf  ear 
to  her  most  daring  petitions,  would  be  thankful  to 
have  her  back ;  her  mental  eye  already  beheld  dazzling 
visions  of  triumphs  at  the  viceregal  Court,  the  flower 
of  the  Indian  Army  at  her  feet,  her  mother  once  more 
her  unselfish,  and  devoted  slave. 

But  to  Cara's  surprise  her  gushing  despatch  was 
promptly  answered  by  her  stepfather ;  who  in  a  firm, 
clear  hand,  and  a  few  terse  sentences,  conveyed  to  her, 
her  mother's  good  wishes,  forgiveness,  and  farewell. 

A  week  later.  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Lumley  sailed  alone. 

THE   END 


WILLIAM    BRENDON   AND    SON,    LTD.,    PRINTERS,    PLYMOUTH 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

305  De  Neve  Drive  -  Parking  Lot  17  •   Box  951388 

LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90095-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  library  from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


